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Orthopædic treatment. Children requiring hospital
treatment for orthopædic defects are referred to the Nelson
Hospital. The Council defrayed the cost of the attendance of
another case for 3½ months at an Orthopædic Centre outside
the district.
Maternity Hospital Treatment. Under an arrangement
with the Nelson Hospital maternity cases requiring in-patient
treatment are referred to that institution. Complicated and
puerperal pyrexia cases may also be sent to Queen Charlotte's
Hospital.
It is known that 448 of the notified births took place in
hospitals or nursing homes, as compared with 400 in the year
before. The proportion of institutional births is steadily increasing,
the majority as a result of preference and not of
necessity.
The maternity cases referred to hospital from the
Council's Clinics totalled 38. They were delivered in the
following institutions:—
The Nelson Hospital 7
The County Hospital, Kingston 28
Other hospitals 3
They were referred for the following reasons:—
Obstetrical 16
Medical 3
Home conditions 19
(For cases admitted to hospital under the Public Health
(Notification of Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia)
Regulations, see page 68).
Consultant Service. A specialist's opinion may be had in
cases of obstructed labour, emergencies of pregnancy, or
puerperal pyrexia. Two cases were assisted in this way during
the year, one for post-maturity and breech presentation, and
one for uterine inertia.
Home Helps. Domestic assistance during confinement
was arranged for 8 women during the year—free of cost in
two instances, and on payment of part cost in six.
Sterilised Maternity Outfits. Sterilised Outfits in
sealed metal containers are available for use during confinement
at the cost price of 6s. 0d. In necessitous cases they are supplied
either at half-price or free of cost,
Nine outfits were supplied—five at cost price, one at
half-price and three free of cost.
40