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admitted to hospital. In these cases the Council make a payment of 10s. Od. by
way of compensation to the midwife subject to the following conditions:—
(1) That the medical officer of the clinic certifies that he or she has advised
the patient to be confined in a maternity hospital;
(2) That the midwife submits the ante-natal clinic medical officer's report;
(3) That the patient confirms the fact that she has engaged a midwife to attend
in her confinement and has been referred by the midwife to the clinic;
(4) That the birth takes place in hospital ; and
(5) That if a booking fee has already been paid to the midwife, this fee be
returned to the patient before compensation is paid to the midwife.
During the year compensation was paid in 7 instances.
Payment of Midwives' Fees.—Payments to midwives, not exceeding 25s. Od.
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.
Two cases were dealt with in this way during the year.
Home Helps.—During the year 107 applications were considered by the
Committee and 120 home helps were provided. The total cost of this service was
£470 8s. 6d., and payments by mothers amounted to £37 11s. 0d.
Boarding Out of Children.—In appropriate circumstances, instead of
providing a home help, the Council arranges for the boarding out of children with
suitable foster mothers, at the Council's expense. Two cases were boarded out
during the year.
Expenses of Mothers Breast-Feeding Their Babies in Hospital.—In
appropriate circumstances, where hardship is imposed upon breast fed babies by
the inability of mothers to visit the babies frequently enough in hospital to ensure
normal breast feeding, the Council will pay the travelling expenses incurred by
mothers. No such payments were made during the year.