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112
There is no provision in the County Borough for subsidising
midwives.
3. Maternity Accommodation.
Under the provisions of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Act, 1918, empowering Local Authorities to make arrangements
for the institutional treatment of complicated midwifery cases,
and for women whose homes are unsuitable for their confinements,
the East Ham County Borough Council arranges for the accommodation
of necessitous cases requiring in-patient treatment, at
Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, the Maternity Hospital and
District Nurses' Home, Plaistow, and the Forest Gate Sick Home.
During 1933, three were referred to Queen Mary's Hospital
and 77 were admitted to Forest Gate Hospital.
The Forest Gate Hospital is administered by the West Ham
Public Assistance Committee, who admit cases from East Ham
on a user basis. The arrangements are made in accordance with
the Public Assistance Regulations.
Owing to the fact that an order for admission can only be
obtained within a few days of confinement, some hardship and
anxiety has been caused to many expectant mothers in the past.
The Council have had this matter under consideration, and
propose that the special services of a visitor shall be available
to ensure supervision and facilitate arrangements for admission to
hospital.
Abnormal cases coming within the supervision of the Assistant
Medical Officer at the Clinic are recommended for admission to
Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, and to Forest Gate Hospital,
for the necessary treatment, at which hospitals specialist service
for serious cases is available.
In those cases under the care of a general practitioner, the
Medical Officer of Health is called in consultation, or arrangements
are made for admission direct with one of the London Hospitals
—Queen Mary's Hospital or Whipps Cross Hospital. Similarly,
the Burges Road Home works in conjunction with the Plaistow
Maternity Hospital.