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41
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF
MATERNAL DEATHS AND CASES OF PUERPERAL
FEVER AND PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
In accordance with Ministry of Health Circular 888, dated
23rd April, 1928, the Council appointed Dr. Dorothy B. Gere to
conduct enquiries into every death in the Borough of women in
childbirth.
In Circular 722, dated 9th August, 1926, relating to the Public
Health (Notification of Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia)
Regulations, 1926, the Minister authorised the maternity and
child welfare authorities to make provision for the special treatment
of women suffering from puerperal pyrexia, for consultation with
an obstetric specialist, for skilled nursing and for institutional
treatment.
Following upon the issue of this Circular the Council appointed
Lady Florence Barrett, M.D., M.S., and Miss Margaret Basden,
M.D., F.R.C.S., to act as obstetric consultants.
Details of the use made of the Council's provision in this
respect during the past year appear on page 103 of this Report.
CONSULTANTS FOR DIFFICULT MATERNITY CASES.
The Ministry of Health has approved the arrangements
proposed by this Council for the calling in of Obstetric Specialists
by medical practitioners in cases of difficult labour, and has also
approved the appointment of Lady Florence Barrett, and Dr.
Margaret Basden as her deputy.
The proposed fee is five guineas for each case as in practically
every case operative assistance is required.
With regard to the recovery of cost or part cost from the
patient, as these cases are obviously emergency cases, general
practitioners and myself decide the payment to be made by the
patient according to the circumstances of the family, the patient
paying the family contribution direct to the Consultant and the
Council paying the balance of the fee, the circumstances of each
case being reported to the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee
for consideration and approval.