London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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48
hospitals. Expectant women are deemed to be eligible for assistance
under this scheme if, by reason of poverty or other cause, they are
unable to pay an amount equal to one-half the average cost per
patient of the maintenance and administration charges of the
hospital concerned for the preceding year.
The number of patients assisted under this scheme, together with the cost to the Council during the year, is shown below :—
| Cases. | Cost. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | s. | d. | ||
| Salvation Army Mothers' Hospital | 112 | 117 | 12 | 0 |
| City of London Lying-In Hospital | 138 | 144 | 18 | 0 |
| 250 | £262 | 10 | 0 | |
Convalescent Home Treatment.—It has not been necessary to
make any alteration to the agreement which has existed for some
years between the Council and the Invalid Children's Aid Association
under which the Association arranges, on behalf of the Council,
convalescent home treatment. Under this arrangement the Council
is not required to meet any cost other than that which the parents
are not able to contribute towards the actual cost of the treatment
provided at the convalescent home, or which is not forthcoming
from charitable sources.
During 1932 arrangements were made for the convalescence of
35 children. Payments to the Invalid Children's Aid Association
during the year amounted to £49 0s. 2d.
Midwifery Assistance.—In order to meet the needs of those
mothers who desire to be confined in their own homes and are unable
to pay a midwife's fee, the Council adopted a scheme in 1920 under
which it accepts financial responsibility for the whole or part of the
cost cf a midwife's services.
Application for assistance under this scheme is made upon a
printed form, showing the size and income of the family, the name
of the midwife to be engaged, the fee to be charged, and other
relevant information. The statements made in the form are verified
by the Health Visitor, and the Medical Officer of Health considers
each application with a view to making an appropriate recommendation
to the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee as to
the suitability of the case for assistance and the sum to be paid by
the Council.
The fees of midwives in attendance on 36 mothers were paid
by the Council during the year, the payments totalling £34 8s. 6d.
Maternity Outfits.—Following upon the issue of Ministry of
Health Memorandum 156/MCW regarding maternal mortality, the
Council arranged for a stock of sterilised maternity outfits to be