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54
Maternity and Child Welfare.
visits, and 17 subsequent visits. As so many of themothers
are attended at their confinements by doctors
who are engaged some time beforehand, the need for
home visiting is not so great as in industrial areas.
The fact of the midwives all being trained also renders
the visiting by the Health Visitors less necessary.
3. Consultations for Expectant Mothers (Ante-Natal
Clinic).—The number of expectant mothers coming to
the Centre to consult Dr. Bell showed an increase on the
previous year. The Ante-Natal Clinic was open on
25 afternoon sessions in the year, and 70 mothers presented
themselves for examination and advice, 64 return
visits being made by them. Many of these cases
were referred to the Clinic by the midwives who were
engaged by the women, and some were referred by
doctors. The total consultations during the year were
134, or an average of 5 per session.
4. Home Helps.—Home Helps were provided in 15
cases during the year, the circumstances in all being
necessitous the whole cost was defrayed by the Council.
The Home Helps, who are paid at the rate of £1 1s.
per week, are kept under the supervision and are
regularly under the instruction of the Health Visitors.
Although they have not received a course of training,
they receive such individual attention from the Health
Visitors that they prove very satisfactory at their work.
5. Maternity Aid.—A midwife was supplied free
of charge by the Council in 6 cases in which, through
necessitous circumstances, the husband was unable to
afford the cost.