View report page

25
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics
Existing arrangements of a unified hospital and local authority
obstetric service for the former County Borough area continued. There
was a further approach to Redhill Hospital for more co-ordination of
hospital and domiciliary maternity services, and this is likely to be
fostered by arrangements for their pupil midwives to receive Part II
training in that part of the London Borough area covered by Redhill
Hospital. Routine meetings of the Maternity Liaison Committee continued.
At the ante-natal clinics a total of 5,366 mothers attended during the
year. 1,527 mothers attended the post-natal clinic. At relaxation classes
785 mothers made 4,171 attendances. 358 mothers attended Mothercraft
courses each consisting of about 7 lectures. 5,366 patients had an initial
blood test. 47 were found to have Rh. anti-bodies. 23 were referred to
the Special Clinic for Venereal Diseases.
Care of Premature Babies
Arrangements for the supervision of premature babies after discharge
from hospital were extended to the whole borough within the catchment
area of Mayday Hospital. These include routine estimations of haemoglobin
with reference back to the hospital of any infant found to have
less than 60%.
For detailed figures see Appendix.
Phenylketonuria
All babies had a urine test by a midwife at Home or in hospital at
9-10 days after birth, and a second test by a Health Visitor between 5
and 6 weeks of age. No child was found to be suffering from Phenylketonuria
in 1966.
"At Risk" Register
Since 1963 Midwives and Health Visitors have notified babies who
may have a greater liability than the ordinary infant to show congenital
defects, so that they may be kept under special surveillance. These
"risks" are as follows:—
Genetic: Family history of deafness, blindness, etc.
Pre-natal: Rubella or other virus infection in first 16
weeks of pregnancy
Rhesus incompatibilities.
Severe illness necessitating chemotherapy or
major surgery in early months of pregnancy.