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sidise a midwife if necessary, so as to be sure she can earn a decent
living.
The difficulty with regard to handy women is not great in
this area except in Isleworth, and we have had considerable difficulty
in the past with regard to febrile complications after labour
in the case of handy women. Personally, I should be only too
glad to see these people swept away, but the fact- remains at present
a large number of the poorer people cannot afford the services of
both a midwife and a doctor, and if they have engaged a doctor they
have to save in other directions. I believe the abolition of the
handywoman would be a considerable measure of safety. The only
question being how this should be brought about, the difficulty is
entirely financial.
With regard to Hospital beds I feel that as time progresses
there will be a greater and greater demand for delivery to take
place in Maternity Hospitals under circumstances such as cannot
be provided in the homes of the people.
We put forward a proposition some years ago with regard to
Redlees as a Maternity Home. It was turned down by the Ministry
on the grounds that we could not make adequate provision for the
nurses. Experience has shown since that time that it is unwise to
establish a Maternity Hospital of less than 30 beds, and the larger
the Hospital the better.
It is true that accommodation is being provided at the West
Midlesex Hospital, and there is talk of extension, but the fact
remains that any connection with Poor Law and Relieving Officers
is going to be one of the stumbling blocks for some time after these
Institutions disappear into the limbo of the past.
I think the present moment is one rather for watchfulness as to
what the needs of the district are going to be rather than an immediate
decision with regard to a Maternity Hospital. Things are
in a state of flux and we might find ourselves with an empty Hospital
for which a use may be wanted, and I think a premature decision
at the moment would be unwise.