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The services of the local Report and Control Centre were
again utilised in despatchhing the ambulances. The enthusiastic
co-operation of each of the above branches of the Civil Defence
Services has been very satisfactory and much appreciated.
HOSPITALS.
No major alteration was made during the year in the
hospitals providing for the needs of the district.
LABORATORY FACILITIES AND DISINFECTION.
The only alteration in the above services made during
1943 was that all the bacteriological examinations of samples of
milk and water, together with swabs for the grouping of
streptococci were, made by the staff of the Emergency Medical
Service Laboratory at Epsom College, whose assistance and
valuable co-operation was greatly appreciated. It is hoped that
this or a similar arrangement will be practicable after the war.
Examinations of swabs for diphtheria and sputa for
tuberculosis were carried out as usual by the Medical Staff of
the Wandle Valley Isolation Hospital.
In addition an arrangement exists whereby other
specimens, the examination of which is important to public health,
are examined by the Bacteriologist at Croydon General Hospital.
No alteration was made in the arrangements for
disinfection.
HEALTH PROPAGANDA.
This was continued chiefly through the Health Visitors
and by the use of selected posters, pamphlets, etc., published
by the Central Council for Health Education.
In addition two splays of the excellent film on
Scabies were given in the Council Chamber to selected audiences
of Doctors, Nurses, Public Health Staffs and others, which were
very instructive.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
MATERNITY CLINICS.
The usual three maternity clinics were held throughout
the year, additional sessions, being necessary as in the two
previous years.
The total number of hew ante-nat .1 cases which attended
was 413 compared with 431 in 1942, 438 in 1941 and 243 in 1938,
The number of sessions hole was 115, this being 7 more than in
1942 and 24 more than in 1941, thus enabling the mothers to be
seen more frequently. As a result the total number of antenatal
visits was 2,401 compared with 2,603 and 2,078 in the two
previous years.
There was a very slight increase in the, number of postnatal
attendances from 169 in. 1941 and 203 in. 1942 to 225, but
the proportion attending for post-natal examination ana advice
is still much lower than in pre-war years. Encouragement to reattend
will need to be given to mothers as the war conditions
subside, for it is important it should be ascertained that no
residual abnormalities lain after child birth. Frequently
inconvenience and. suffering in after-life can thereby be avoided.
Almost all cases which attend the Clinics are subsequently
confined by Midwives in .eir own homes or at Purley Hospital, or
are admitted to the Count;, Hospital, Redhill. In the latter
case much closer supervision is possible, and at less
inconvenience than would occur if each patient had to travel to
Redhill for all their ante-natal treatment.