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Provision of Maternity Outfits.—In 1930 the Council agreed to supply
sterilised maternity outfits for the use of necessitous mothers in order to ensure the
necessary cleanliness in domestic midwifery and with a view to minimising the risks
of maternity. They are supplied free, half cost, or cost price, according to the family
income, the Council's economic circumstances scales being used as tests of necessity.
During the year 83 applications were received : 86 were supplied—60 free, 10 at
half cost, and 16 at cost price.
Compensation to Midwives.—Whenever an assistant medical officer finds
it necessary to recommend hospital treatment for expectant mothers referred to the
Council s ante-natal clinics for ante-natal examination by midwives, the midwife
loses her patient if the mother accepts the advice of the medical officer and is admitted
to hospital. In these cases the Council make a payment of 10s. by way of compensation
to the midwife subject to certain conditions, which were given in detail
in my Annual Report for 1931, being complied with. During the year compensation
was paid in eight instances.
Payment of Midwives' Fees.—Payments to midwives, not exceeding 25s. in
respect of any one confinement are guaranteed where this course is necessary or
desirable. Two such payments were made during the year.
Administration of the Public Health (Puerperal Fever and Puerperal
Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926.—The Council's Scheme for the diagnosis and treatment
of these conditions provides for the services of a consultant—Mr. H. G. Taylor,
F.R.C.S.—for the provision of nursing assistance, for hospital treatment in the County
Council's hospitals, and for bacteriological examination where necessary. The
extent to which it has been made use of has been reported on in that part of the
infectious diseases section of the Report which deals with the notification of these
diseases.
Obstetric Complications in Private Practice.—In September, 1931, the
Council arranged for the services of Mr. H. G. Taylor, F.R.C.S., the Council's Consultant
under the Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations, to be available
in such exceptional cases, and to pay him a fee of £5 5s. Od. for each case. No case
was dealt with in this way during the year.
Home Helps.—The Council's Home Help Scheme was started in 1929 and in
seven years the number of Home Helps supplied each year increased from 1 to 80.
In view of the experience which had been gained from the working of the Scheme,
it was reviewed and subsequently enlarged to include the provision of home helps
(a) where the mother is confined in hospital; (b) where the mother is suffering from
a complication which necessitates lying up in bed for a period ; and (c) where a
miscarriage occurs if there has been attendance at a welfare centre and proper arrangements
have been made for the confinement. At the same time the scale of assessment
for the supply of home helps was revised and is now as follows :—(a) in the case of
those within the Council's economic circumstances scale, the amount to be paid foi