§ 59. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the advisability of taking steps to require that an inquest be held on every death of a mother in childbirth with a view to 2227 having exhaustive inquiries made into each case in an effort to lower the maternal mortality figures?
§ Sir K. WOODThis suggestion was considered by the Departmental Committee on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity, who did not advocate its adoption. The committee advised that local authorities should be urged to continue the arrangements by which medical officers of health make inquiries into maternal deaths and furnish confidential reports to the Chief Medical Officer of my Department. Arrangements have been made accordingly and these reports are received periodically from most of the medical officers of health.