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57
A new development towards the end of the year at the Antenatal
Clinic was the attendance of one of the health visitors at one
session weekly for the purpose of giving advice and instruction in
ante-natal hygiene and other appropriate subjects. The number
of mothers attending this class at any time is not large, so that it
is possible for the health visitor in many cases to give individual
instruction. These talks are of especial value to the younger mothers.
Post Natal Cases.
Thirteen cases attended by midwives were referred by them or
by the health visitors for examination at the Ante-natal Clinic
owing to the presence of defects following childbirth. Seven of
these cases were found to be in need of special medical treatment,
for which they were referred to hospital or elsewhere, according to
the defect found.
MATERNITY WARD.
The admission to the Maternity Ward of the Municipal Hospital
numbered 206, the total being the same as for 1925. Of these 37
cases were admitted for ante-natal treatment, and 169 for confinement.
Corresponding figures for 1925 were 39 cases for ante-natal
treatment, and 167 for confinement. The number of cases confined
in the Ward represents 20.4 per cent, or approximately 1 in 5 of the
total births of the district, a proportion which it is hoped will
increase still further.
There is no doubt that the ward is greatly appreciated by the
mothers who make use of it, as is shown by the number of readmissions
of patients who have previously been confined there.
Of the patients confined in 1926, 75 were mothers of first babies,
and in these cases the two weeks' stay at Upney Hospital has
a definite educational effect in emphasising the importance of breast
feeding and in instilling the first principles of infant care.
The return of cases as required by the Ministry of Health is given
below. It will be seen that the results obtained in the ward continue
to be satisfactory.