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14
the infant had been considered an essential sphere of public health
activity and in this district remains the most imperfectly organised.
An arrangement was entered between the Management Committee
of the Acton Hospital and the Council, and an Ante-natal
Clinic was established in April, 1917, and beds reserved for complicated
cases of pregnancy. Dr. Bell was appointed by the Hospital
Conmmittee to take charge of the Clinic, and of the in-patients
admitted. In the original agreement a sum was paid by the Council
for all the services necessary to carry out the work.
This arrangement was varied last year. Now Dr. Bell is
paid directly by the Council for his services at the Clinic and the
Hospital Committee is paid for the complicated cases admitted.
When the Ante-Natal Clinic was started, like most innovations,
its value was not fully appreciated, but it is becoming more
and more popular, and the accommodation at the Hospital is becoming
insufficient.
During the year 57 expectant mothers attended. Some of
these, of course, attended on several occasions. The Clinic is held
on alternate Thursday afternoons and as many as 11 expectant
mothers have attended on the same afternoon.
Four cases were admitted into Hospital from the Clinic. The
Clinic_is not as popular as could be wished with Midwives. Possibly,
there may be some fear among them that the Clinic might be
the means in some way or other of reducing the number of their
clients. But we have found that the best plan for securing an AnteNatal
Clinic has been through the post-natal care by the Health
Visitors among the mothers and children ; post-natal care is prenatal
care for the next infant.
Skilled care at the confinement is as important as ante-natal
care.
Under the Midwives Act, 1902, the Middlesex County
Council is the Local Supervision Authority over Midwives in this
District.
On the outbreak of the war, a Relief Distress Committee was
formed here, and a Maternity Aid and Needlework Sub-Committee
appointed.
Amongst other work carried out, the loan of maternity bags
was offered by the religious charity organisations, and doctors and