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(2) War Memorial Hospital.—There are 7 maternity beds in this hospital,
and I am indebted to Mr. R. S. G. Hutchings, the Secretary, for the following
information regarding the admissions to the maternity unit during the year. The
number of children born in the hospital was 206, and 31 mothers were admitted
for ante-natal or emergency treatment. The number of attendances at the antenatal
clinic was 1,433. The number of mothers admitted under the Council's
scheme was 61, the nett cost to the Council being £444 14s. 6d.
Ante-Natal Treatment and Emergencies.—The number of cases admitted
for ante-natal or emergency treatment under the Council's scheme was 3. The
reasons for admission were albuminuria 2 and vaginal prolapse 1.
Convalescent Home Treatment for Children under 5 Years of Age.—
The necessary arrangements for this are made by the Woolwich Invalid Children's
Aid Association to whom the Council give grants-in-aid for this purpose. During
the year such grants were made in respect of 105 children, the total cost of whose
convalescent treatment amounted to £675 13s. 2d. The Council's grants amounted
to £200. The children were sent away for periods varying from 3 to 24 weeks,
and payment was only made in respect of children sent to homes approved by the
Medical Officer of Health.
Convalescent Home Treatment for Expectant and Nursing Mothers.—
In June, 1931, the Council decided to make provision under their maternity
and child welfare scheme for the convalescent treatment of expectant and nursing
mothers. The scheme included payment of railway fares where necessary. It
was resolved also to recover some of the cost from patients after consideration of
each case on its merits. During the year 2 mothers were so admitted to convalescent
homes.
During the year the Council learned from the Association of Maternity and
Child Welfare Centres that they were in treaty with a charitable Trust which has
considerable funds to be applied to the building and equipment of convalescent
homes, with a view to opening one at Staplehurst, Kent, for ten convalescent mothers
with their babies under one year of age, and eight convalescent children without
their mothers, aged one to five years. Before the Association could secure a grant
they had to satisfy the Trustees that the beds would be fully occupied, and they
asked if this Council would be prepared to make use of this accommodation. It
was proposed that patients should be received at the following rates:- 25s. per
week for a mother and breast-fed baby; 30s. per week for a mother and bottle-fed
baby, and 15s. per week for a toddler. The travelling expenses for each patient
would be the only extra charge. The Council agreed to co-operate in this scheme.