View report page

INSTITUTIONAL CONFINEMENTS.
As has been mentioned previously in this- report, the general demand
Tor institutional confinements continues to grow. Fifty-eight per cent,
of births allocated to this district took place in institutions or nursing
homes. Many of these cases were admitted because of overcrowding
or other home circumstances ; others had hospital confinements on
medical grounds. This figure seems very high, and when the acute
housing shortage has been overcome it is probable the demand will be
less, thus making more beds available for other classes of patients, who so
urgently require them.
The number of mothers confined in hospitals formerly under the
Surrey County'Council during the year was as set out below :—
St. Helier 127
St. Luke's (Guildford) 4
Epsom 5
Redhill 2
Dorking 4
142
Seventy patients were delivered under private arrangements at the
Carshalton, Beddington and Wallington District (War Memorial) Hospital,
and a further 74 at private nursing homes and other institutions.
HOME HELP AND DOMESTIC HELP SERVICE.
The Corporation's sciieme for the provision of home and domestic
help continued to expand throughout the first six months of the year,
and was handed over to the Surrey County Council on the 5th July as a
very efficient working organisation.
The Corporation were much indebted, and the County Council
continues to be indebted, to Mrs. Best, Mrs. Wiles and Mrs. Prince of
the Women's Voluntary Services for their considerable help in running
this service. As a result, the number requiring the service and not being
satisfied was considerably reduced, and towards the end of the year it
was found possible to satisfy 100 per cent, of requests for service.
The importance of this branch of social service cannot be overemphasised,
especially if we are to improve the circumstances of
domiciliary midwifery. Many women, who in the past have asked for
institutional confinements would probably be only too pleased to have the
confinement at home if adequate domestic help were available.
The cases attended were as follows :—
Maternity
General
Medical
Full-time
71
35
Part-time
3
91
74
126
24