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27
In addition to the above, dinners to the number of 3,200 were
supplied to necessitous mothers and children at a cost of £92 2s. 3d.
On and after the 1st April, 1926, in place of dried milk hitherto
mainly supplied under this head, Grade A (Tuberculin Tested) Milk
only was given, except in a few cases where for medical reasons,
dried milk was ordered.
Ante-Natal Work.
The work of the Ante-Natal Clinics during 1926 was very
satisfactory as will be seen from an examination of the statistics
shown on page 31. These Clinics are under the direction of Miss
Alice Bloomfield, M.D., F.R.C.S., who has organised them with
remarkable success. The importance of this branch of Maternity
and Child Welfare Work cannot be over-estimated, not only in
its effects in the reduction of maternal mortality, but also in the
prevention of invalidity, suffering and other evil results which
threaten the expectant and nursing mother.
Owing to the increase in the attendances of patients at
the Central Ante-Natal Clinic held at the Borough Maternity
Hospital, it was found necessary to provide an extra session. This
additional session was sanctioned by the Ministry of Health and
was opened on the 1st April, 1926. The effect has been to greatly
relieve the pressure on the Medical Officer and to increase the
efficiency of the work.
There are subsidiary Clinics held at the Latchmere, Plough
Road, and All Saints' Hall Centres.
With the exception of one fortnightly Ante-Natal Clinic held
at the Women's League of Service Centre, 111 Bridge Road West,
all Ante-Natal Cases are referred from the Voluntary Centres
included in the Borough Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme to
the Ante-Natal Clinics at one or other of the Municipal Centres.
The increase in the number of patients admitted to the Borough
Maternity Hospital and also in the District Midwifery Service has,
of course, resulted in a corresponding increase in the attendances
at the Ante-Natal Clinics. It is an inflexible rule that every
expectant mother who applies for admission to the Maternity
Hospital or for the services of the District Midwife, is required
to attend for examination by the Medical Officer of the Clinic.
Dr. Bloomfield reports : —
During the year 1926 the Ante-Natal work in Battersea has
grown considerably, the number of new cases attending the Battersea
Pre-Natal Clinics being 906 as against 729 in 1925, while the total
attendances have been 3,842 in 1926 as against 2,904 in 1925.
These added cases are largely due to "out of the Borough"
cases, the greater proportion of whom were primiparæ.