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Ante-natal mothers continue to be supplied with free cow's milk
if the financial circumstances warrant this action, while dental treatment
is also arranged, if necessary at reduced cost. The supply of sterilised
dressings on similar terms was introduced during the year.
Post-Natal Clinic.
In July the first session of what has been termed the Post-natal
Clinic was held at 69, Brighton Road, Purley. The purpose underlying
the establishment of this Clinic is to encourage all mothers who would
not otherwise secure a post-natal examination by a doctor to do so.
One examination is desirable at the end of the lying-in period by the doctor
attending at the confinement, and another at about six weeks after
the birth has occurred. If all the mothers who attend the Ante-natal
Clinics re-attend after their confinements, the Ante-natal Clinics
would become overcrowded, hence the special Post-natal Clinic
was started. The numbers expected only justified one session per
month, viz., the third Monday in each month. In practice, while the
majority of post-natal cases arrive on that day, as is desirable, others
can attend only at the normal ante-natal sessions. This is counterbalanced
by some ante-natal mothers attending at the Post-natal
Clinic. Fundamentally, the anomaly which appears to exist in the
following Table of attendances relates only to the nomenclature of the
Clinics. The chief thing is to see that all cases are properly examined
post-natally, and thus avoid the inconvenience and suffering which
has often in the past resulted from neglect following childbirth.
During the year a total of 107 cases who had previously attended
the Ante-natal Clinics attended post-natally, i.e., 41 per cent. of the
average number of new Ante-natal cases in 1936-7.
Where necessary, appliances are supplied to post-natal mothers,
a reduced charge being made if this is indicated.
Cases requiring special treatment are referred either to their own
doctors, or to the Specialists at Croydon or at one of the London
Hospitals.