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37
Following upon the issue of this Circular, the Council has
appointed Lady Florence Barrett, M.D., M.S., Miss Margaret
Basden, M.D., F.R.C.S., and F. N. Reynolds, Esq., 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 98 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.
During 1932 the services of the Obstetric Specialists were
required by general practitioners in two cases.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
The work carried out during 1932 under the Council's maternity
and child welfare scheme can conveniently be reported upon under
the following descriptive titles:—
(a) Health visiting.
(b) Infant welfare centres, ante-natal, artificial sunlight
and dental clinics.
(c) Provision of maternity hospital accommodation,
convalescent home treatment, midwifery assistance,
maternity outfits and home helps.
(d) Nursing assistance.
(e) Provision of milk and other foods to necessitous
mothers and children.