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By the end of the year 10 new grant aided playgroups had opened, financial
assistance had been given to prevent the closure of an existing group and to
expand another group.
Survey on Playgroups
The department was asked by the Home Office to collaborate with the
National Children's Bureau in a survey on the development of playgroups. Preliminary
meetings were held with representatives from the Home Office, the
Director and representatives from the National Children's Bureau and the Social
Services Department.
Domiciliary Midwifery
To meet the needs of mothers wishing to have a home confinement 9
domiciliary midwives were employed by the Council. The Council lost the services
of three midwives employed by the General Lying-in Hospital to cover a
selected area of the Borough when the Hospital closed in July.
The midwives visit the expectant mothers to assess the suitability of the
home for domiciliary confinement or its suitability for the mother and her baby
to return home to the care of the midwife 48 hours after confinement in one of
the local hospitals. The number of domiciliary confinements during the year fell
to 195 of which 3 were premature births and 2 were stillborn. The number of 48
hour discharges, however, rose to 624.
Five of the Council's midwives are approved teachers under the Central
Midwives Board second training scheme. During the year 26 pupils completed 3
months district training. Student nurses from Guy's Hospital doing the obstetric
training course also made visits of observation to an ante-natal clinic and accompanied
midwives on home visits.
Maternal Deaths
Two deaths assigned to maternal causes or associated therewith were
investigated on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Security. One of
these was due to abortion.
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