View report page

12
MATERNITY CaSES.
Curing the year 62 cases were confined in Purley
Hospital and 98 at Redhill County Hospital under the Council's
Scheme, the former number being two less than and the latter the
same as in 1939. The system of charging was not varied during
the year.
Reduced ambulance charges continued to be made for
those cases whose confinements were arranged through the Council'
Scheme.
MIDWIFERY SERVICE.
The two Midwives employed by this Council attended
96 cases during the year compared with 87 in 1939. In common
with other midwives they are to be commended upon the way in
which they continued their work disregarding the dangers of air
attack. The Council Midwives had the additional disadvantage of
having no means of transport at night as vehicles could not be
hired and no cars have been provided for their use. In spite of
strong representations on the matter it was not until 1941 that
a means of transport was found for them.
HOME HELPS were provided in 26 cases, this being 8 more than in
1959.
BIRTH CONTROL. Arrangements with the Croydon Clinic continued
as in recent years.
HEALTH VISITATION
For the first time the Council had the services of
four Health Visitors for a full year and the number of visits
paid increased from 6,677 in 1938 to 9,192, this figure including
540 first visits to babies, 1,910 visits to babies under 1 year,
5,724 visits to children from 1-5 years, 350 visits to cases
of Tuberculosis and 118 visits to Refugees.
INFANT WELFARE CENTRES.
The six infant welfare centres established by the
Council were opened for 237 sessions, during 1940, this being
2 less than in 1958, but the total number of new cases which
attended was exactly the same. With a diminishing child
population and the difficult circumstances under which the
centres were held during the second half of the year, it was to
be expected that the attendances would show a corresponding
decrease. Actually this was most marked in the reduction in
the number of attendances made by old cases, these being 6,126
fewer than in 1958. Those who did attend saw the Doctors more
frequently, as there were 3,243 consultations which is only 279
less than in 1958. The average attendances at the Centres
were Brighton Road, Coulsdon, 48; Rickman Hill, 40;
Old Coulsdon 38; Kenley, 43; Selsdoa, 50; and
Sanderstead, 54.
Ten children were referred to hospital for treatment
including minor operations and two were referred for
orthopaedic treatment.
TODDLERS CLINICS. Special sessions were devoted to the
inspection and welfare of toddlers at four of the centres
during 1940, this being the first almost complete year of this
work. Forty-four sessions were held compared with twentythree
in 1939, 237 toddlers being examined (10 less than in
1939) and 215 re-examinations made (29 in 1939).
The staffing of the Centres was unaltered during 1940.
SUPPLY OF MILK.
The usual scheme for the provision of dried or liquid
milk continued until the Autumn when the Government introduced
its scheme for the provision of liquid milk at reduced cost
for all children under 5 years of age whose parents applied for
the same and also for Ante-natal or Nursing Mothers. It was
apparent from the first that this would involve considerably
more administrative and clerical work than hitherto, the