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institutional treatment of complicated midwifery cases, and for
women whose homes are unfit for their being confined in them.
Where such provision is made, the cases are usually sent in after
observation at the Pre-Maternity Clinic, so that all the advantages
of ante-natal care are added to those of the Maternity Home or
Hospital.
So far, East Ham has no such institution of its own ; but the
Borough Council has arranged for the accommodation of necessitous
cases requiring in-patient treatment (at the cost of the Council)
at Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, and at the Maternity Charity
and District Nurses' Home, Plaistow, upon the written recommendation
of the Medical Officer of this Department.
During 1926 only two cases required to be thus provided for,
and were sent to Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford. Many other
cases, however, who had attended the East Ham Ante-Natal
Clinic went into hospital at their own expense, and many of the
wives of men receiving relief from the Guardians were admitted for
their confinements to the Forest Gate Sick Home. A considerable
proportion of our cases, therefore, have the advantages of
institutional treatment at the time of their confinement.