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medical attendants on women referred to the practitioners by
midwives. These arrangements are limited to uninsured women
who engage midwives for their confinements, not extending to those
women who book their doctors and engage midwives. Insured
women are outside the scheme as, in their cases, ante-natal advice
is part of the panel services. In general, examinations are recommended
at the sixteenth, thirty-second and thirty-sixth weeks of
of pregnancy, and one post-natal examination is advised. The
fees recommended to be paid to the practitioners were 10s. for the
first examination, 5s. for each subsequent examination and report,
and 5s. for a report on the examination of an insured patient.
Later, the Minister of Health limited the fees to 5s. for each
examination and report.
Women who choose to obtain their ante-natal supervision
under this scheme are offered the same facilities in the way of
obtaining milk, dental treatment, etc., as are those attending
the ante-natal clinics, arrangements being initiated by a recommendation
being made by the ante-natal doctor.
Comparatively little advantage was taken of the scheme
during the year, only 35 women being referred. Of these, 15 were
insured and 20 not insured. Only three of these women attended
for post-natal examination.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONFINEMENT.
At Home.
The various forms of assistance granted to those mothers
having their confinements at home, include:—
(a) Payment of the fees of midwife. The average fee charged
by midwives in this district is £2 10s. 0d. for the first
confinement and £2 2s. 0d. for others.' To encourage
attendance by the midwife to the 14th day the Council
pays £2 15s. Od. and £2 5s. Od. for 14 days' attendance
to midwives attending necessitous cases. This payment
is ordinarily conditional on the patient having received
satisfactory ante-natal supervision. During the year 52
cases were assisted in this manner.
(b) Payment of the fee of a home help. The payment of
3s. Od. per day, usually for 14 days' attendance, is made
to suitable home helps. A panel of suitable women is
compiled by the Health Visitors and the mother chooses
one from the list. Exceptionally, arrangements are
made for the home help to enter upon her duties before
the confinement and, where circumstances warrant it,
to remain after the usual period of 14 days. The payments
were made in respect of eight cases during the
year.
(c) Provision of maternity sets. Maternity sets are issued
free to necessitous mothers who are receiving adequate
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