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For mothers ante-natal and post-natal, cervical cytology and family planning
clinics and health education are provided. At two centres evening child health
clinics are provided for working mothers. Health Visitors working from the
centres visit mothers and children under five in their homes, as well as other
members of the family, and including old people whether as part of a family
unit or living alone.
Mothers and families know the health centre as a focal point where they
can contact the health visitor and visit at intervals for consultation with the
clinic medical officers.
Screening for Phenylketonuria
All new-born babies have a screening test at the age of six days, using the
Guthrie method, for the detection of phenylketonuria. This is normally carried
out in hospital on babies born in hospital, and by domiciliary midwives on
children born at home and on those babies discharged from hospital before six
days. This test is used to detect the presence of phenylketones in the blood
which result from a metobolic disorder which if left untreated may lead to
mental subnormality. Positive cases can be referred to hospital for treatment
and development is then normal.
There were 71,066 attendances at child health and toddlers' sessions and
1,010 attendances at ante-natal and post-natal clinic sessions. The Council
provides facilities at some centres for general practitioner obstetricians to see
their own booked maternity patients and 131 such sessions were held during
the period.
Creches at which mothers may leave their children for the duration of
the session (normally 3 hours) are held at many child health centres. There
were 1,299 sessions during the period at which 15,441 attendances were made.
CHILD HEALTH CENTRES
Number of children attending during the year
Born in 1971 4,159
Born in 1970 4,245
Born in 1966-1969 6,393
Total 14,797