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two calls. They all received the same reply, that as a medical man the matter was confidential,
and I could give them no further information about the patient. This apparently only stimulated
the curiosity of some still further. It was left for one paper, however, to find out by some means
or other where the patient lived, and they telephoned me late at night to say they had found the
patient, who was living with her mother in X Street, and she would be at my office at nine o'clock
in the morning.
The broadcast had asked that the woman in question should call at the Public Health
office in this area, or any other area where she happened to live, first thing in the morning
I got to the office the following morning before it was due to open, so as to ensure that no
information was given to any reporter or enquirer. I waited and waited, time slipped by, and it
was not until nearly ten o'clock that the patient came in, having read at breakfast time in one of
the papers, an account of the broadcast. Bearing the fragments of the paper in her hand, she
wanted to know what it was all about, and I had, of course, to inform her of the gravity of her
condition, and I am glad to say that within forty-eight hours—she insisted on making preparations
before going into hospital—she was in hospital, and dealt with.
I saw her some time after she came out, having had radium applied, and been operated on,
and she was looking in excellent condition. I have seen her on various occasions since, and she
says she feels first rate.
I had considerable qualms at first about invoking the assistance of the B.B.C., and I was
criticised by some of my colleagues for so doing, but knowing all the circumstances as I did, and
the disappearance of the patient, I felt it was the only means I had of ensuring the early treatment
of the patient's condition, and looking back on it afterwards I had no regrets, but the reverse.
This is, as I said, I believe the first time on record that the B.B.C. has been invoked to save
the life of a patient who had a chance, and to them I expressed, and again express my gratitude
for the help they gave in this case.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
There is now available for every pregnant woman in the area:—
(a) An Ante-Natal Specialist,
(b) An Obstetric Specialist in case of difficulty at the confinement,
(c) A Specialist in case of Puerperal Fever, and
(d) Beds provided at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, in case further treatment is required.
In addition to this, from the dental side there is provision of everything that can ensure
that the mother's mouth is cleaned before her confinement.
Where this necessitates the removal of large numbers of teeth, there is the provision subsequently
of dentures.

The Committee also decided that in cases where the person responsible for payment for
the supply of dentures—usually the husband—becomes unemployed, on production of proof of
unemployment, the payments due during the period of unemployment are to be cancelled and
written off.
Where the extractions are numerous, in order that the mother shall get the least possible
upset, an arrangement is made through the Royal Free Hospital (Eastman Dental Clinic), to
admit the patients to their beds for one or two nights, as may be necessary, for which we pay at
the rate of 15s. per night.
Thus, I think without fear of contradiction, we can say that in this area we have one of the
most complete schemes, if not the most complete, in the country for ensuring the safety of our
parturient women.
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