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33
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics
The unified Hospital and Local Authority service under the
clinical direction of the Hospital Consultant Obstetricians continued
unchanged, with central ante-natal and post-natal clinics
at Lodge Road, and a subsidiary clinic at New Addington. The
advantages and disadvantages of centralization have been discussed
in previous reports. The main drawback of expectant
mothers being required to travel to and from outlying parts of
the borough, diminishes with the increasing amount of interim
ante-natal care given by General Practitioner Obstetricians in
their own surgeries. The extension to the Lodge Road Clinic was
completed, enabling Mothercraft Lectures and Relaxation Exercise
Classes to be held in satisfactory and accessible premises. All
services are now available for expectant mothers at the one
central clinic. Despite the increase in attention given by
family doctors, clinic attendances rose during 1960, reflecting
the increase in the birth-rate. At ante-natal clinics a total
of 4,203 mothers attended during the year, 3,023 for the first
time. 26,327 attendances were recorded. At the post-natal
clinic, 1,674 mothers attended for the first time and made a
total of 1,714 visits. During the year 24 series of talks of
six sessions each on "Mothercraft" at which 329 mothers attended
were given. At Relaxation Exercise sessions, 598 mothers made
3,267 attendances.
Care of Premature Babies
Where premature labour is threatened every effort is made to
secure the admission of the expectant mother to hospital. Although
there were 24 more premature births in 1960 than in 1959,
20% fewer premature babies were born at home. The percentage of
all premature babies who survived the first dangerous month of
life was also larger in 1960 than in the previous year.
For detailed figures see appendix, page 104.
Care of the Unmarried Mother
The Croydon Association for Moral Welfare continued to act
for the Corporation and received payment on a capitation basis
for cases dealt with by their Social Workers. The Corporation
also paid hostel fees in respect of approved cases for whom such
accommodation was required.