View report page

56
Relaxation exercise classes for expectant mothers conducted either by health visitors
or physiotherapists were held at some of the welfare centres.
Tests
Every expectant mother attending the Council s ante-natal clinics had a specimen of
her blood taken for the Wassermann and Kahn reactions and for the Rhesus factor.
Laboratory services continued free of charge to the Council at hospital laboratories or
at the Medical Research Council's laboratory at County Hall. Pregnancy diagnosis tests,
when required, were carried out for the Council at certain hospital laboratories or at the
Ministry of Health laboratory at Shrodell's Hospital, Watford.
Chest X-rays
Arrangements were gradually being extended for the routine chest X-ray either by
mass X-ray units or at chest clinics of all women who were to be confined at home.
The Violet Melchett Infant Welfare Centre, a voluntary organisation providing
services on behalf of the Council under section 22 of the National Health Service Act,
1946, continued to maintain a residential unit where treatment was provided for mothers
and babies experiencing breast feeding difficulties and for babies with dietetic upsets.
The North Islington Infant Welfare Centre, a voluntary organisation, also providing
services on behalf of the Council under section 22, continued to provide similar nonresidential
facilities.
Rehabilitation
of mothers
Ten mothers (with young children) were sent to recuperative centres (usually for
a period of eight weeks) for training in mothercraft and housecraft. There was follow-up
by the health visitor and in some cases by the family service unit in addition. Reports
on discharge and six months after discharge were being studied to assess the value of
these residential courses and to ascertain whether the benefits derived during the stay at
the recuperative centres were of lasting value.
Joint
arrangements
with other
Local
Authorities
Reciprocal arrangements were continued with the Kent County Council whereby
expectant mothers and those with young children living in the Mottingham area attend
either the Kent or London maternity and child welfare centres, whichever may be nearer
to their homes.
The arrangements whereby mothers and young children living in that part of the
County Borough ofWest Ham adjacent to North Woolwich may, if they so wish,
attend the Council's North Woolwich Centre, Fernhill Street, E.16, were also continued.
Clinics
Attendances at sessions of different types held in maternity and child welfare centres
are shown in the tables on pages 55 and 57. The areas served by the various centres are
defined, and this is to the advantage of the mothers and children who attend, as
continuity of care by the health visitor of the area can be maintained. Complete freedom
of choice is, however, given to the mother. Areas are adjusted as necessary, when new
centres are established, to meet local demands. Some of the sessions are conducted by
doctors engaged in private practice who are employed by the Council as part-time
medical officers.
Maternity and
child welfare
services
provided by
hospitals
The medical schools of four teaching hospitals, acting as voluntary organisations
grant-aided by the Council, provided child welfare centres on its behalf. With the
exception of one health visitor, who continued to be employed by the medical school,
the health visiting staff was provided by the Council. For duties at the clinic, the health
visitors were under the direction of the Paediatrician in charge, but were responsible
to the Divisional Medical Officer for work outside the clinic.
Exchange of
medical
officers
Reciprocal arrangements were continued with certain teaching and other hospitals
under which assistant medical officers employed by the Council obtained further
experience in the paediatric departments of the hospitals and hospital registrars worked
at the Council's welfare centres.
Voluntary
organisations
18 voluntary organisations provided maternity and child welfare centres under
agreement with the Council, in accordance with Section 22 of the National Health
Service Act. The centres were administered by voluntary committees, on which the
Council was represented either by members of divisional health committees or the
appropriate divisional medical officer, or both. The premises and services provided by
the voluntary organisations were inspected from time to time.