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Relaxation exercise classes for expectant mothers were conducted either by health
visitors or physiotherapists at some welfare centres.
Examination of blood specimen for theWasserman and Kahn reactions and for the Tests
Rhesus factor was a service available to each expectant mother who attended the
Council's ante.natal clinics and haemoglobin estimates were made.
Hospital laboratories and the Medical Research Council's laboratory at County
Hall continued to provide services free of charge to the Council. 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.
Arrangements for routine chest X.ray examination by means of mass X.ray units or Chest X.rays
at chest clinics of women who were to be confined at home were further extended.
Six mothers with their young children were sent for periods of six to eight weeks Rehabilitation
to rehabilitation centres for training in mothercraft and housecraft. A review of families of mothcrs
sent during the past two years for this form of rehabilitation has shown that, if it is to
be successful, families must be selected in which the father is reasonably stable and
interested in the family. Subsequent follow.up by health visitors must be closely maintained
and any necessary rehousing arranged shortly after the return of the mother
and her children.
The residential unit maintained at the Violet Melchett infant welfare centre, a voluntary Mothercraft
organisation providing services on behalf of the Council under section 22 of the National training
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