View report page

27
neglect in the past of provision for the early diagnosis of conditions
inimical to the health of mothers has resulted not only in a high
maternal mortality rate but a considerable amount of suffering
and invalidity among the survivors.
On inspection of the figures for the year 1924 it will be seen
that the largest attendance—55 per cent. of the total—at these
Clinics was at the Borough Maternity Hospital Clinic, the remaining
attendances being distributed between the three subsidiary clinics.
All new cases are seen on the first visit at the Borough Maternity
Hospital Clinic, as are also expectant mothers in the later months
of pregnancy, who have booked for admission to the lying-in
wards.
It has been found necessary to consider a re-arrangement of the
work of these clinics, the attendances at the principal Ante-natal
Clinics at the Maternity Hospital having become too large to permit
of the necessary time being given to individual cases. It is
proposed therefore that, in future, all cases, with the exception
of one visit at the Tuesday afternoon Clinic at the Maternity
Hospital for the routine blood test, will be seen at their local clinics
until the sixth and seventh months, and all cases expecting admission
to the Maternity Hospital for their confinement will attend
the Maternity Hospital Clinic for their last three monthly visits.
It is felt that more reliable results will follow from these alterations
and that moreover the congestion at the Tuesday and Wednesday
clinics will be entirely avoided and better training facilities provided
for the teaching of the pupil midwives undergoing training at the
Borough Maternity Hospital.
The total number of patients attending the Municipal Antenatal
Clinics during 1924 was:—
Central Clinic (Borough Maternity Hospital) 420
Latchmere Clinic 154
All Saints' Clinic (East Battersea) 85
Plough Road Clinic 101
760
Ante-natal (V.D.) Clinic.
This special treatment clinic was established in connection
with the Ante-natal Out-patient Department at the Borough
Maternity Hospital, and was opened for the reception of patients
late in 1921. The Clinic is fully equipped with all modern appliances
and aids for diagnosis and treatment, and very useful work was
carried out during 1924, which is summarised below.
Owing to the increase in the numbers attending it was found
necessary to institute another Session last year. This extra session
is utilised as a preliminary clinic for the classification of cases, and
those found to require special treatment are referred to the main
clinic for treatment.