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83
enlarge on the impossibility of obtaining in the average
tenement proper accomodation for the lying-in woman,
and we are convinced that a maternity home would give
immediate results in saving maternal and child life, and
in diminishing chronic invalidism of mothers.
The requirements and probable cost of such an
institution are:—
Building. No special building is required, but
an ordinary good-sized house or two adjoining
medium sized houses would be suitable, provided, of
course, the sanitary conditions were satisfactory.
A central situation is not essential, as arrangements
could doubtless be made for patients to be brought
by the L.C.C. ambulances, if necessary.
Number of Beds. There should be at first
accommodation for eight or ten patients, but it is
desirable that there should be facilities for increasing
the number. Two or three ordinary wards, a room
for the actual confinement and an isolation ward
would be required. The equipment and furniture
should be of the simplest character consistent with
efficient midwifery.
There must be comfortable accommodation for
the staff.
Staff. The following staff would be required:—
Superintendent Midwife.
Assistant Midwife.
Two or three Servants.
It would also be desirable to have one or two pupil
midwives who would do their necessary practical work
in the home. They would pay a fee to meet the cost of
their maintenance. I he Assistant Medical Officer
would be available in cases of difficult labour or other
emergency.
Medical practitioners and midwives should be given
the option of attending their own patients in the home if
they so wished. Fees should be charged which might
vary with the circumstances of the patient.