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being recommended by the Hospital Clinic Medical Officer, at an
estimated cost of £10 per annum.
(c) That the existing ante-natal clinic services provided as part of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme be discontinued in the event of the
adoption of the proposals contained in (a) above.
Your obedient Servant,
H. W. BARNES, Medical Officer of Health.
In my opinion, the ideal place for the supervision of pregnant
women is the clinic attached to hospitals which reserve accommodation
for maternity patients. At these hospitals special facilities
exist for X-ray examinations and the provision of Ante-natal beds.
I am convinced that the ante-natal care which the women of
Camberwell will receive at these hospitals will reach the highest
possible standard, and it only remains for them to take full advantage
of the facilities of this service. Any scheme, however efficient , will
of course fail if the whole-hearted co-operation of the people for
whom the scheme was promoted is lacking. Lectures by Health
Visitors at the mother craft sessions conducted at Infant Welfare
Centres should, however, assist in achieving the object of educating
women as to the necessity for early and systematic ante-natal care.
Post-Natal Supervision.
The number of Camberwell mothers who were confined in the
Borough and elsewhere was 1,552. These patients were medically
examined before discharge. Under the terms of the arrangement
with the London County Council as outlined in that portion of
this Report dealing with ante-natal services, there will be an
opportunity for any mother living in Camberwell to be examined at
St. Giles' or Dulwich 'Hospitals after her confinement, and to
receive early treatment if she suffers from impairment of health
resulting from childbirth. The practice of enquiry by the Health
Visitor at the first visit following the notification of birth as to the
state of health of the mother after her confinement was continued,
and in cases where the mother was found to be suffering from
backache, prolapse, phlebitis, debility, urinary or intestinal troubles,
she was urged to seek medical advice from her own doctor or at a
general hospital, unless the mother was confined in the local hospitals.
In these cases the patients' attendance at the Post-Natal Clinic at
St. Giles' or Dulwich Hospitals was stressed.
During the year 775 mothers with impaired health resulting
from childbirth were advised by the Health Visitors to seek medical
attention.
Health Visiting.
Three Health Visitors are employed by the Council and eleven
by the Voluntary Associations undertaking Maternity and Child
Welfare work in the area. In addition, part of the time of the
Borough's Infant Life Protection Visitor is occupied in visiting cases