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Consultant Service.—Specialist advice is available to practitioners
in cases of complicated labour, emergencies of pregnancy
and puerperal pyrexia.
A second opinion was provided on 4 occasions during the year
for the following conditions:—
Puerperal pyrexia.
Delayed Labour.
Placenta praevia (2).
Maternity Outfits.—Sterilised maternity outfits are provided,
either free, at half-price or at cost price, according to means.
Eleven of such outfits were provided in 1937, 5 at cost price,
1 at half price and 5 free of cost.
Home Helps.—The services of a domestic help during confinement
can be obtained under the scheme. The mother's contribution
is fixed by an income scale.
Twenty-nine mothers were provided with this assistance during
the year.
Midwives.—The County Scheme for a domiciliary midwifery
service, formulated under the Midwives Act, 1936, came into
operation during September. The scheme provided, in respect
of Carshalton, for the appointment of 6 salaried midwives, 2 by
the County Council, 2 by the district Council acting as agents
for the County Council and 2 by the Carshalton District Nursing
Association.
The District Council's midwives commenced duty on the 13th
September. As Officers of the Local Authority their work forms
an integral part of the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare
Scheme and is co-ordinated with all the other branches of the
service. There is no doubt that this is the most effective arrangement
of local midwifery schemes.
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