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31
ANTE-NATAL AND POST-NATAL CLINICS
These combined clinics serving both hospital and domiciliary
midwifery services continued unchanged. The extension to the
premises, which it had been anticipated would be ready by the
end of the year, was unfortunately delayed by shortages of
building materials.
One point on the routine conduct of these clinics seems
worthy of comment. Although every effort is made to prevent
mothers waiting unreasonably when they attend by appointment,
some justified complaints are still received despite constant
checks and vigilance to ascertain if the appointment system is
working satisfactorily. It is possible to be fairly certain
that the schedule of the local authority clinics will be maintained,
but an emergency call can unfortunately completely disrupt
a hospital session.
Demands of the maternity wards understandably receive priority
as far as hospital medical officers are concerned, but it
would seem an important consideration when estimating hospital
staffing ratios that there should be sufficient cover to allow
staff adequate time and freedom from disturbance. Only if this
is available, can doctors in the routine clinics give that
personal attention and unhurried consultation which expectant
mothers now rightly anticipate.
During the year 4,174 cases were seen at the Ante-Natal
Clinics, of which 2,962 were new cases. A total of 25,836 attendances
were recorded and 1,870 cases were seen at the Post-Natal
Clinics (1,807 new cases) with 1,870 attendances.
A scheme was also approved for additional accommodation to
house mothercraft instruction classes and relaxation exercise
sessions. When completed, this will allow all services to be
available at this central clinic.
24 series of talks of 6 sessions each on "Mothereraft" at
which 368 mothers attended were given during the year. At relaxation
exercise sessions, 574 mothers recorded 3,120 attendances.
CARE OF PREMATURE BABIES
While the existing arrangements for the domiciliary care of
premature babies continued unchanged, the emphasis was on the
prevention of such births through ante-natal care, when there
was any likelihood of a birth being premature to a significant
degree, prior admission of the mother to hospital was always advised.
The usual detailed figures are given in the Appendix,
Page 108.