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39
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics
The rise in the birth rate increased considerably the work
of the clinics despite a growing practice of referring mothers
to family doctors for interim ante-natal care.
There has always been a joint domiciliary midwifery and
hospital obstetric service in Croydon, under the unified clinical
supervision of the Consultant Obstetricians. A Maternity Liaison
Committee has functioned since the inception of the National
Health Service, but in recent years has met very infrequebtly as
most major matters of policy have been decided. One of the
Consultant Obstetricians serves as a co-opted member of the
local authority Health, Maternity and Welfare Sub-Committee.
The percentage of mothers confined in hospital reached a
record high figure of almost 70%. This was possible only by the
policy of early discharge for home care. There are many inconveniences
in operating such a policy, but it did enable a firm
decision as to the place of confinement for every mother attending
for ante-natal care, and priority for all who needed institutional
care for medical or social reasons. As always there
*as no question of deliberate use of the Emergency Bed Service.
At ante-natal clinics a total of 5,459 mothers attended
during the year. 1,849 mothers attended the post-natal clinic.
At relaxation classes 899 mothers made 5,402 attendances. 436
mothers attended Mothercraft courses each consisting of 7
lectures.
Care of Premature Babies
There were 29 more premature babies born than in 1962, and 4
more died. Arrangements continued with the Children's Department
of Mayday Hospital for the supervision of premature babies after
discharge from Hospital.
Estimations of haemoglobin are made at Infant Welfare
Clinics if the mother prefers to visit a local centre instead of
returning to hospital. They are referred tack should a reading
of less than 60% be found at the Clinic.
For detailed figures see Appendix, page 119.