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Ill "As the present arrangements for the accommodation of
lying-in women and patients suffering from puerperal sepsis
at Whipps Cross Hospital are unsuitable, they should be
modified pending the provision of an isolation block at the
hospital."
Puerperal sepsis cases arc now treated at Plaistow Hospital
or at Whipps Cross Hospital. As such cases vary greatly in
their nature, symptoms and complications, it is advisable that they
should be admitted to a hospital which has every facility for
diagnosis and treatment.
I suggest that, in the arrangements that will ensue consequent
upon the building of more wards at Whipps Cross Hospital,
there should be a separate gynaecological (i.e. diseases of
women) unit consisting of a ward for ordinary eases which are
not septic, and a ward for septic cases to include all patients
suffering from puerperal pyrexia, puerperal fever, septic abortion,
and mastitis after confinement. Small observation wards should
he reserved in addition for cases of threatened abortion apart from
the above-named "clean" or "septic" wards.
With the establishment of such a unit, all cases of puerperal
sepsis should then be sent only to Whipps Cross Hospital which
will be equipped to deal adequately with these cases, having full
facilities for the modern means of diagnosis and treatment.
Until the new buildings at Whipps Cross Hospital are complete,
it will be possible so to modify the existing arrangements
lor the reception and treatment of these cases at Whipps Cross
hospital, as to conform as far as possible with the requirements
outlined above.
"The Council should consider the development of their
post-natal services, including the establishment of separate
post-natal examination sessions and arrangements for the
provision of any treatment which may be necessary lo
remedy defects discovered at these examinations."
Owing to the pressure of ante-natal cases it has not been
possible to deal with a large number of post-natal cases at the
clinics. With the establishment of separate post-natal sessions ti
will be possible to encourage all women to report for a routine
medical examination at a suitable time after confinement.
In order to do this it will be necessary to appoint an additional
medical officer. At present there are two full-time Assistant
Medical Officers, and two Part-time Medical Officers who attend
at three sessions per week. I suggest that a third full-time
assistant Medical Officer be appointed, and that the services of
the part-time Medical Officer now attending one session per week
be dispensed with. In this connection, too, and in view of Circuar
1550 dealing with the pre-school child which has just been
issued by the Ministry of Health, it will be possible, should such
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