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63
Midwives and Midwifery Assistance.—There are 54 midwives
residing in the Borough who have notified to the local supervising
authority (the London County Council) their intention to practise,
and 11 midwives who practise in the Borough but reside elsewhere.
Of the total number 15 are engaged in private practice, the remaining
number being employed by hospitals and voluntary associations.
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 of a
midwife's services.
The fees of midwives in attendance on 52 mothers were paid
by the Council during the year, the payments totalling £61 9s. 6d.
Maternity Outfits.—Sterilised maternity outfits are kept at the
Town Hall for issue to expectant mothers who arrange for their
confinements to take place in their homes. These outfits are
supplied to the Council at a cost of 6s. Od. each, and are issued to
applicants at or below cost price, or free of cost to persons who are
unable to make a contribution.
Seventy outfits were issued during the year. Seven were sold
at cost price, 6 at a reduced price, and 57 were supplied free of
cost. The sum collected from the sale of outfits was £2 13s. 6d.
and the net cost to the Council was, therefore, £18 6s. 6d.
Arrangements for the Investigation of Maternal Deaths and
cases of Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.—No alteration has
been necessary in the Council's arrangements made under Circular
722 of the Ministry of Health.
Details of the use made of the Council's Consultant Obstetricians
in cases of puerperal pyrexia during the past year appear on page
140 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.
During 1936 the services of an Obstetric Specialist were
required in two cases,