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of Health—entered into a similar arrangement with regard to
Leyton mothers. It was agreed to begin with that the Hospital
should retain the maternity benefit, but owing to difficulties
which have arisen subsequently, the Hospital agreed
to waive its claim to maternity benefit.
After women "book" for their confinements at the
Hospital, they attend there regularly for ante-natal supervision
as it is generally agreed to be desirable that the antenatal
supervision should be conducted by those who will be
responsible for the subsequent confinement; and the high
average number of ante-natal attendances made by patients
is a credit to the supervision exercised by the Hospital staff.
The time devoted to the ante-natal supervision of Leyton
women in the Hospital is equivalent to that of at least two
ante-natal clinic sessions per week ; and to that extent this
Council is relieved of the responsibility of providing antenatal
clinic sessions.
As the Hospital has the medical, surgical and obstetric
staff and facilities available for dealing with all complications
and emergencies, Leyton women occupying maternity beds
are spared the possible inconvenience and risk of being transferred
in a critical state to another institution for specialist
treatment.
In the past the Hospital has given preferential consideration
in booking to West Ham and Leyton cases, but the demand
for emergency beds from other areas and the increased payment
made by these Authorities may influence the Hospital in
according to Leyton cases that preferential consideration
which has been given in the past.
In December, 1929—when this Authority was considering
the building of a municipal maternity home—I submitted the
following observations on the advantages in the present
arrangement with Queen Mary's Hospital:—
(a) The patient is treated in a modern well-equipped
Hospital with every facility for the treatment of
emergencies and complications.
(b) The medical and nursing staff as regards qualifications
and experience is better than one would be
likely to obtain in a smaller home with fewer beds.