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Consultant Service
The services of an obstetric consultant are available for the
emergencies of pregnancy and complications of labour. This provision
was not utilised during the year.
Emergency Maternity Unit.
On the suggestion of the Ministry of Health, a Mobile Maternity
Unit was established in 1938 to provide skilled obstetric and nursing
assistance in the patients' homes. It is based on the War Memorial
Hospital and is available to any practitioner in emergency. The
Unit has been called upon once only, in 1942, since it was set up.
Maternity Outfits.
Sterilised outfits for use during confinement are supplied at cost
price or less than cost price in necessitous cases. Two were
issued during the year at cost price.
Home Helps.
The same difficulty in securing the services of women to act as
home helps under the scheme was experienced as in recent years.
Improved rates of pay failed to attract suitable applicants, and the
needs of many expectant mothers could not be met. Seven helps
were provided during the year.
Midwives.
Two midwives are appointed by the District Council under the
County Council's midwifery scheme formulated under the Midwives
Acl 1936. The fees fixed by the County Council for the services
of the midwives are as follows: —
As Maternity Nurse 35/As
Midwife 40/-
Provision is made for a reduced fee in necessitous cases.
The work carried out by this Council's midwives during the year
is indicated by the following details: —
Cases conducted : —
Primip. Multip. Total
(1) As Midwife—Live births 21 105 126
Still births — 3 3
(2) As Maternity Nurse—
Live births 3 2 5
Still births — — —
24 110 134
Visits made—
Ante-natal 1593
Nursings 2376
Post-natal 377
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