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Expectant mothers making arrangements (2) or (3) usually
attend the Council's Maternity Clinics but private doctors can also
refer their cases for special purposes, e.g., blood tests for Rhesus
factor, etc. Every case has an X-ray examination of the chest, and
a full examination including weighing and examination of the
urine, blood, blood pressure, etc.
Arrangements have been made in some cases for the District
Midwives to assist general practitioners at ante-natal sessions in
their surgeries.
The results of this arrangement of alternative services are
now being reviewed with the aim of ensuring that every ante and
post-natal mother gets the full advantage of modern knowledge,
and that no gaps exist or inferior standards of practice are permitted,
but that the closest co-operation between all branches of
the Health Service is secured.
During 1955, 209 residents had their babies in their own
homes, some 248 at 10 hospitals in the County, including 229 at
Redhill County, some 287 at 25 hospitals outside the County including
150 at Purley Hospital and 76 at Mayday, while about
95 were confined in private nursing homes.
Only 25% arranging for home confinements is a low proportion
but one for which there are a number of reasons.
Mothercraft and Relaxation Classes.
Classes covering these subjects were commenced in Purley at
the end of 1953 and the numbers attending have increased very
rapidly, hence it is hoped to extend the facilities in the near
future. It is now necessary for expectant mothers wishing to join
these classes to make application to the Divisional Health Visitor
at 115 Brighton Road, Purley, who will inform them as soon as
a vacancy occurs.
Midwifery and Home Nursing Service.
Apart from some changes in the personnel there were no
marked alterations in this service during 1955. As considerable
changes in the staff are now occurring it is probably wise only to
mention the following Home which acts when necessary as a
co-ordinating centre for the District: viz. Surrey County Council
Nurses Home, Westview, Woodstock Road, Coulsdon. Tel. No.:
Downlands 4005.
District nursing has undoubtedly increased considerably in
recent years as would be expected in an ageing population, with
the greater number of injections now given and as a result of the
difficulty of arranging hospital admissions, which, in the case of
the elderly is probably more acute in this area than in most parts
of the County.
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