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23
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
no progress in the approach to Redhill Hospital for more co-ordination of
hospital and domiciliary maternity services, nor was it possible to make
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 5,891 mothers attended during the
year. 954 mothers attended the post-natal clinic. At relaxation and mothercraft
classes 901 mothers made 3,948 attendances. 3,881 patients had an
initial blood test. 42 were found to have 4h. antibodies. 41 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 page 104.
Phenylketonuria
During 1968 all babies born in the borough or normally resident there
have been screened for phenylketonuria by having either a Guthrie test or a
urine test. It is hoped that early in the new year all babies born in the
borough, whether at home or in hospital, will have a Guthrie test. It was as
a result of a Guthrie test that one case of phenylketonuria v/as discovered,
a true diagnosis was made and treatment started early in the disease. The
baby is currently under treatment and is progressing well.