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7
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The demands on the Maternity and Child Welfare Service, as
indicated in the subsequent tables, have shown a marked increase
on previous years, this being mainly due to the higher number of
births. The number of live births assigned to the Borough by the
Registrar General for the year under review was 2,975, compared
with 2,707, in 1942, which provided the highest total in any previous
year. As a great proportion of the mothers make arrangements
for their confinement through the Council's maternity service, or
go to the local Ante-Natal Clinic, if the confinement is to take place
in a County Hospital, the increasing number of births means an
increasing amount of work to be done at the Health Centres.
Supplies of National dried milk, fruit juice and cod liver oil,
made available by the Government for children up to six years of
age and for expectant mothers, are distributed through the Health
Centres. The Vitamins "A" and "D" tablets available for
expectant mothers are also issued. The distribution of additional
clothing coupons to expectant mothers has, however, been discontinued
as it was found more convenient for mothers to receive
these coupons from the Food Office at the same time as they obtain
the new ration books, which enable them to obtain certain additional
rations until the baby is born.
The evacuation scheme for expectant mothers, organised by
the London County Council, was continued and during the year,
157 expectant mothers took advantage of this scheme. The
arrangements are that parties of expectant mothers travel to the
country approximately one month before their babies are due. The
confinements usually take place in emergency maternity hospitals.