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49
Puerperal Infection.
(a) Consultant Services: On only two occasions this year was
the consultant summoned on account of puerperal infection.
(b) Hospital Services: The admission to hospital of patients
suffering from puerperal infection, who need institutional treatment is
arranged by the Council at no cost to the patient, the patients being
admitted to the isolation hospitals of some of those authorities with
whom the Council has an arrangement for the acceptance of infectious
patients. During the year, 14 patients were admitted to hospital, including
five who had been confined in local nursing homes.
(c) Home Nursing: As some of the conditions causing puerperal
pyrexia are communicable, it is undesirable for a midwife, attending
such a patient, to attend to other maternity cases. By arrangement
with the District Nursing Association the nursing of such patients is
passed to suitably qualified nurses of the Association. The Association
also, on behalf of the Authority, undertakes the nursing of patients
suffering from such conditions as breast abscess, white leg, etc., occurring
in the nursing mother. Three patients notified as suffering from puerperal
pyrexia were nursed by the staff of the Association under these
arrangements. In addition, there were further cases of nursing mothers
whose nursing the staff of the Association undertook on behalf of the
Council.
BIRTH CONTROL CLINIC.
At a Birth Control Clinic established at a maternity centre, contraceptive
advice may be given only to those in whose case further pregnancy
would be detrimental to health. Last year 177 new patients attended,
and altogether 547 visits were paid. Each year a small number who
attend have to be denied any advice on contraceptive methods, as in
their cases there are no medical grounds rendering a pregnancy undesirable.