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106
"That steps should be taken to prepare draft plans for extensions
to the Maternity Home, particularly in view of the possibility
of a quinquennial grant being introduced in lieu of the present
percentage grant. Although the urgency for more maternity beds is
not immediately apparent, there is no doubt that it will be so during
the next few years.
"The number of patients admitted to the Home each year since
1919 has been as follows 1919, 139; 1920, 169; 1921, 198; 1922,
204; 1923, 205; 1924, 191 ; 1925, 215; 1926 (new Home opened),
383; 1927, 454; 1928, 481.
"The Home is now almost continuously full and 27 patients
have not been able to be booked for admission this year owing to the
Home being fully booked when application was made.
"The District Midwife is also fully occupied and is occasionally
attending more than her maximum of 10 cases per month. She was
originally appointed particularly for the Barkingside and Newbury
Park district, but it is desirable that facilities should be given for
this service in other parts of the town. Owing to lack of accommodation,
another District Midwife cannot be at present housed.
"The Ante-Natal Clinic is also being fully attended. I consider
also that in any future scheme, accommodation should be made for
emergency difficult cases which require a separate staff, and at
;present are obliged to be sent to Hospitals in London.
"The extensions required are :—
(1) Extensions to the present Nurses' Home, giving more
accommodation for a larger district as well as Institution Staff.
(Plans for such extension are already in existence, the Home
being so designed.)
(2) A new ward block giving separate accommodation for
emergency difficult cases.