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These are very useful services to the district, and the
untiring manner in which the Committees and helpers of the
Associations carried out their arduous duties in this connection
during the year is greatly appreciated.
The nurses are again to be complimented on the work
that they have done in the homes of the patients.
LABORATORY FACILITIES.
Pathological and bacteriological work for the area is
carried out by the Kent County Council at the Public Health
Department, County Hall, Maidstone. A small laboratory,
chiefly for the examination of nose and throat swabs will be
established as soon as the necessary equipment is available
and should greatly facilitate the early diagnosis of nasal and
faucial diphtheria.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
(i) Midwifery and Maternity Services.
(a) Ante-natal Care. 987 expectant mothers attended
Corporation Ante-natal Clinics which equals a 58.3 percentage
of notified births as compared with 54.7 per cent, for 1946;
465 other expectant mothers received ante-natal care at clinics
attached to hospitals to which they were admitted for confinement;
115 women received ante-natal care from their own
doctors prior to admission to Corporation Maternity Home,
giving a total of 92.6 per cent, as compared with 93.4 per cent,
in 1946 who received ante-natal care. The remaining 7.4
per cent, probably received ante-natal care from the midwives
engaged to attend confinements.
(b) Co-operation with General Practitioners. 115 of the
728 cases admitted to the Corporation Maternity Home
during 1947 were general practitioners' cases.
(c) Consultant Services. The consultant was called on
seven occasions to see patients in the Maternity Home.
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