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59
Fifty-one outfits were issued during the year. Eight were
sold at cost price, 13 at a reduced price, and 30 were supplied free
of cost. The sum collected from the sale of outfits was £3 19s. 6d.
and the net cost to the Council was, therefore, £11 6s. 6d.
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
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 115 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 1934 the services of an Obstetric Specialist were
required in only one case.