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the amount of food is sufficient to give contentment and promote normal growth.
Recognition of these facts has governed our instructions to the mothers, and recently
we have supplemented these instructions by diet sheets specially drawn up for our
Centres. In addition, free milk and other assistance has been readily granted whereever
necessary.
Inevitably, a large number of minor ailments come under review, despite the
fact that the primary interest of these Centres is the nutrition of the children. We
have dealt with such ailments by reassurance where no treatment is necessary,
and otherwise by referring the case to the family doctor, or to a hospital, according
to the circumstances of the case.
The opening of the new Bessborough Street Centre is eagerly anticipated, and
cannot but lead to better work all round, in view of the inadequacy of the present
quarters.
(Signed) George Ormiston.
Maternity Centres, Bessborough Street, Ebury Bridge and Marshall Street.
Dr. Margaret Salmond.
The Ante-Natal Clinics in the City of Westminster have had a most successful
year's work. The numbers have increased considerably at the Bessborough Street
and the Ebury Bridge Clinics and a new clinic has been started at Marshall Street
which, it is hoped, will serve a useful purpose. The attendance of the mothers has
been, on the whole, very regular and many have benefitted in health by advice
given. Particular attention has been paid to the question of nutrition, and many
mothers have received milk, iron, calcium, and vitamin D, which have improved
their condition considerably. The health of the mothers has been, on the whole,
fairly good, but many suffer from dental sepsis, and a great effort is being made to
persuade them to avail themselves of the existing facilities for treatment. This
effort is marked by slowly increasing success. Much, however, remains to be done
in this respect and by endeavouring to educate the younger generation in the care
of the teeth.
Expectant mothers who have symptoms suggesting the possible presence of
pulmonary tuberculosis are referred to the Tuberculosis Officer for investigation
and radiological examination.
There have been no maternal deaths this year amongst the mothers attending
the clinics and a very small number of stillbirths and deaths of premature infants.
There have also been few abortions, the cause of which is always difficult to trace
with precision.
Happy co-operation has been maintained with the Westminster Hospital and
the neighbouring London County Council Hospitals for intern cases, and the service
for extern cases is admirable. Excellent work has been done by the Sister Midwife
and the various Superintendents and Health Visitors. Medical reports are sent with
all patients seen if they are referred to their own doctors, to midwives or to hospitals
and a real effort is made by all concerned at the Centres to link up the work of the
Ante-Natal clinics with the surrounding Maternity Services.
(Signed) Margaret Salmond.