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378
is a good deal of co-operation between the Dispensary and the
Centres, the results of which are very beneficial to the patients
concerned. Our thanks are due to The Mayor (Councillor
F. E. Manley, J. P.), Sir Herbert Ormond and Mr. F. A. Dod, for
the necessary 'letters.'
"Other Voluntary Societies are the Home Hospital for Women,
to the maternity ward of which, we are, by arrangement made by
the Committee, able to send suitable patients at a low cost. There
is also a Female Guardian Society's Home and a Babies' Hotel in
the Borough, the latter taking children of professional class only,
and so barely touching the work of the Centres.
"In conclusion, it needs to be recorded that, by the opening
of the new Centre, the terrible over-crowding of the Milton Road
Centre, reported last year, has been greatly reduced. Furthermore,
a larger proportion of the children born are brought to the Centre;
also a stricter look-out is being kept on the toddlers, their records
now being sent to their schools when they leave us at five years of age.
These factors mean increased attendances and more work. Therefore,
at some not very distant date, more staff and more space will
be needed."
It appears that the neo-natal death-rate (or deaths within the
first month of life to every 1,000 births) was nearly 2½ times heavier
among the infants of labourers (general and casual) than among
those of medical men. This fact impresses the need for ante-natal
work among the poorer section of the community, and the scope of
its possibilities. The midwife is evolving, and before long we shall
see her status raised and her services extended. She does important
work; work that is essential to the community; and she is a much
better trained and educated worker than formerly. More fully
trained still, she will become the ideal ante-natal Health Visitor.
She delivers quite 90 per cent. of the poorer mothers, and ante-natal
care falls properly within her province, if she can be trusted to seek
medical aid whenever it is necessary. The fuller training to more
fully prepare her for ante-natal work will only come when we can