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23 of these patients were, however, referred to Queen Mary's Hospital
for X-Ray and electrocardiograph. The Ilford Council continued to pay
a charge of £1 1s. per film for X-Ray examination, with 10s. 6d. for each
subsequent film if required and 10s. 6d. for each electrocardiograph, up to
4th July, 1948.
Midwives.—There were 21 State certified midwives (including the
Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent and 10 domiciliary midwives and
2 part-time midwives), resident and practising in the district. In addition
there were at the end of the year 14 State certified midwives at the Ilford
Maternity Hospital, 2 at Wilnett Lodge post-natal home and 3 at private
nursing homes in Ilford.
Their supervision has been carried out as in previous years.
Suspension from Practice.—No midwives were suspended from practice
during the year.
Medical aid was sought in 11 instances where the infant was found
to have inflamed or discharging eyes. In all cases the condition of the
eyes cleared satisfactorily.
In accordance with the suggestion of the Minister of Health the power
of recovery of the fee of the Medical Practitioner under Section 14 (4) of
the Midwives Act, 1918, in this class of case was not exercised.
Domiciliary Midwifery Service.—During the year 744 cases were
attended. In 544 cases the midwives were engaged to attend as midwives
and in 200 as maternity nurses. The patients resided in the following
wards:—
Barkingside 57; North Hainault 59; Cranbrook 43; Park 58; Seven
Kings 96; South Hainault 82; Loxford 81; Clementswood 68;
Goodmayes 19; Fairlop 71; Clayhall 47; Mayfield 63.
4,406 ante-natal visits were made during the year.
At the end of the year there were 10 Domiciliary Midwives employed
wholetime and 2 part-time midwives, in addition to the Superintendent
and Deputy Superintendent.
54 medical practitioners participated up to 4th July in the Council's
scheme for the ante-natal examination of patients who had engaged a
Council midwife to attend them.
70 patients were referred by private doctors to the Consultant
Obstetrician at the Ante-Natal Clinic for a further opinion. 16 of these
women and 50 other patients who had engaged a domiciliary midwife (42 as
a midwife and 8 as a maternity nurse) were for various reasons admitted
to the Ilford Maternity Hospital or other Institutions for confinement.
39 were admitted to the Maternity Hospital, 3 to the Wanstead Hospital,