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The total number of sessions held during the year was 99, compared
with 58 in 1965.
Maternity Services.
Arrangements for the hospital booking of maternity cases have
continued to be made at the welfare centres, where the women first attend,
and no difficulty has been experienced in booking beds for priority cases
where there are medical, obstetrical or social indications for
institutional delivery. Furthermore, many women who do not fall into the
priority groups, but who do not wish to have their babies at home for
other reasons, are finding that the hospitals can accept them.
Some hospitals assume full responsibility for the care of their
booked patients who then cease to attend the Council's ante-natal
clinics, although they may continue to participate in health education
sessions and relaxation classes.
Many hospital-booked women, however, receive the greater part of
their routine ante-natal care at the Council's centres but are referred
back to the hospitals at about the thirty-sixth week of pregnancy.
Good co-operation exists between the hospital maternity departments
and the Council's staff and information about women who fail to attend
clinics is fully exchanged. Every effort is made to ensure adequate
supervision of all pregnant women.
Care of the Unmarried Mother and her Child.
During 1966, there were 682 illegitimate live births registered
compared with 747 in the previous year. The Director of the Greater
London Council Research and Intelligence Unit has analysed these
illegitimate births and has supplied the following table showing the
age groups of the mothers of these infants:-