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10
LABORATORY FACILITIES AND DISINFECTION.
All the bacteriological examinations of samples of
milk and water, and of swabs for the grouping of streptococci
were again made by the staff of the Emergency Medical Service
Laboratory at Epsom College, whose assistance and valuable cooperation
were 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
healths 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,
including Anti-V.D. propaganda.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
MATE RNITY CLINICS.
The usual three maternity clinics were held
throughout the year, additional sessions and medical staff being
necessary as in the two previous years. The only effect of
evacuation on this branch of the service was to remove the need
for two Doctors attending the Kenley Maternity Clinic sessions
after the middle of the year.
The total number of new Ante-natal cases who attended
the clinics was 359 compared with 413 in 1943, 431 and 438 in
the two preceding years and 248 in 1938. The number of sessions
held was 118, this being 3 more than in 1943 and 10 more than
in 1942, while the total number of ante-natal visits was 2,146
compared with 2,401, 2,603 and 2,078 in the three preceding years.
Undoubtedly the reduction in total attendances was only caused
by the phase of the war through which we were passing, and the
temporary lessening of work in the clinics was compensated for
by the additional work entailed in evacuation.
Special arrangements were made for the evacuation of
expectant mothers with their children, care being taken to see
that each ante-natal mother was examined by a Doctor at the
clinic to certify her fitness to travel and to pass her antenatal
notes to the Doctor at her destination. Parties, including
a few mothers from this District, were sent off at regular
intervals and the arrangements worked extremely smoothly. The
co-operation of the London County Council and the assistance of
the Volunteer Car Pool in conveying the patients to London were
greatly appreciated.
In the circumstances it is not surprising that the
number of post-natal visits dropped from 225 last year to 148.
It is hoped that this most necessary section of the work will
receive greater support from mothers in the post-war period.
If only they will realise that much inconvenience and suffering
in after life can be avoided by attendance for post-natal
examination and advice, an increase in this form of service will
undoubtedly occur.
Normally the majority of cases who attend the Clinics
are subsequently confined by Midwives in the patient's own home
or at Purley Hospital, or they are admitted to the County Hospital
Redhill. During the second half of 1944 the cases were
scattered all over the Country for their confinements.