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75
In my original report, the Committee will remember that under
the head of Ante-natal Welfare, I reported as follows:—
1. An Ante-natal Clinic for Expectant Mothers.
(a) This should be provided, if possible, at some hospital
in the Borough at which a physician for diseases of women
would attend one afternoon a week, to see expectant mothers.
Cases of complication arising after parturition, in the mother,
might be examined by the same physician and dealt with by
him; or referred to the appropriate physician or surgeon at the
hospital. The Metropolitan Hospital fulfils the condition of
being in the Borough, and it has a department for diseases of
women. If the hospital authorities are willing, I have no
doubt the Clinic might be arranged with this Department.
Negotiations would be necessary to ascertain if such an arrangement
could be made, and at what cost.
(b) In connection with this Clinic, one or more Health
Visitors should be appointed. This officer should have the
qualification of a midwife, with some knowledge of sanitation
of the home. Her duties would be to visit the homes of
expectant mothers, advise them to attend the Clinic for consultation
with the physician, to hear the physician's instructions
to the expectant mothers, and to see, if possible, that his
advice is followed. She would also see if the sanitary condition
of the home is satisfactory.
While it will be necessary for the above Central Clinic to be
established, I am of opinion that the Infant Welfare Centres may
be utilised in dealing with expectant mothers. It would only be
necessary to arrange for the Centres to be open for these mothers
one afternoon a fortnight, and to make arrangements with the
present doctors attending the Infant Welfare Centres to see and
advise such cases as attend.