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89
The following observations thereon have been made by the
Medical Officer of Health and submitted to the appropriate Committees
of the Council:—
Maternity and Child Welfare Service.
(a) Routine Home Visits to children aged 1 to 5 years.
The inspection was carried out in November, 1934, and this
observation is based on the number of home visits paid to children
between the ages of 1 and 5 years for the year 1933. This figure
was 2,370. It is pointed out that during 1934, the number of home
visits has materially increased to 3,300. Further, as there are 3
weighing sessions held weekly at each centre, mothers are encouraged
to bring their older children to the centres when they attend with
their babies in order that they may be seen from time to time as
regards general progress. That this practice is followed is borne
out by the figures for total attendances at the Centres. For the
year 1934, this figure was 16,358 as compared with 15,137 for the
previous year, and is the highest that has ever been recorded.
As regards the question of re-adjustment of the Health Visitors'
time, it is pointed out that in consequence of the appointment of an
additional Clerk in the Public Health Department, it is proposed
to free the Health Visitors of part of their clerical duties in connection
with the Milk Order Scheme in order to permit them to
devote more time to health visiting in their districts.
(b) Maternal Mortality.
A report on the maternal deaths occurring during the year
1933, dated 8th December, 1934, has already been submitted to
the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, and in that report it
was stated that an enquiry into each case revealed that in every
instance there had been ante-natal supervision, that these maternal
deaths could not be ascribed to any lack of medical assistance
and that they were all cases of abnormal labour presenting very
grave obstetrical difficulties.