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3,869 attendances were attracted to the 434 Mothercraft sessions at
which talks were given by health visitors to advise and instruct
mothers in infant care. Several centres persevered with their Parentcraft
classes to which fathers were invited and, at the 51 sessions
held, there were attendances of 1,075.
Midwifery
Throughout 1966, our mutually helpful liaison with hospitals
was again actively pursued and, despite a shortage of personnel,
it was still made possible for health visitors to attend each week at
one of the antenatal Consultant Clinics at St. Alfege's Hospital.
Regular monthly meetings, which are very well attended by
health visitors, midwives, local authority doctors and by hospital
medical and nursing staff, continue to be held at the British Hospital
where interesting obstetric cases are discussed and explained by the
hospital's own medical staff. Every fourth month organisation of the
meeting is undertaken by local authority staff who are able to talk
about the Health Services in general and their own work in particular.
It has been found that the hospital staff are particularly appreciative
of accounts of the work of all sections of the Health and Welfare
department, much of which has previously been unknown to them.
Clinic services were maintained for 32 general practitioner
obstetricians to examine their domiciliary cases with midwives in
attendance. Appointment systems were in operation and every
mother who booked at a clinic had a full physical examination and
blood investigation. Facilities are provided by the Devonport
Laboratory at Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital for the blood
specimens to be examined.
Postnatal examinations were offered to all mothers six weeks
after delivery but the response remains very disappointing. Some
mothers did attend their own doctor's surgery for the examination
but only 508 were recorded as having attended local authority
postnatal clinics during 1966.
Practising Midwives
Notifications of intention to practise as midwife in the London
Borough of Greenwich during 1966 were received from 140 persons
in accordance with the Midwives Act, 1951. Of these, 115 were in
respect of hospital midwives and the remainder, viz. 25, were from
those engaged in the Council's service and included the supervisory
staff.
Domiciliary Services
The Borough is divided into 13 midwifery areas, each with a
full time midwife. There have been some changes in the Council's
midwifery staff during the year but, by and large, the numbers are
well up to establishment and are tending to remain so.
As a result of patients taking advantage of the '48 hour discharge'
scheme and also of the fact that every encouragement to