A National Maternity Service While considerable progress has been achieved
in recent years in reducing the rate of infant mortality, the rate of maternal mortality has remained obstinately high. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the scheme for a national maternity service, which has been framed, and was last week made public, by a joint Committee of the British Medical Association and the Trades Union Congress, will meet with the Govern- ment's approval. One of the main features of this scheme is the co-operation which would be invoked of Government Departments, local authorities, the medical profession and other bodies concerned. The appropriate committees of local authorities—generally the maternity and child-welfare committees—would operate the service and they would draw up a list of doctors and midwives from which the expectant mother might choose, and the responsibility for her welfare during the period of pregnancy would rest on them. These committees would have to supply advice on diet, nutrition and hygiene and in special cases provide necessary foodstuffs. They would also have to see that laboratory service, beds in institutions, ambulance maternity services and home helps were available. So that if this service comes into operation—no recommendations for its financing have yet been made by the Joint Committee any mother will have the best medical skill at her command from the moment pregnancy is known until, and in special cases even after, the birth of her child.
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