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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Ealing.
3
3Oth March, 1948.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the health
of the Borough for 1947.
The period under review has been an energetic one for the
department and many matters have come under review.
In the Domiciliary Midwifery Service two matters of principle
have evolved; firstly, that each midwife, if she so desires, will be
allowed. motor transport, and for this purpose the Council has
agreed that on application any domiciliary midwife will be entitled
to a car allowance and also that a car to be purchased by the
department will be held available for emergency journeys; and
secondly, that housing accommodation within her district shall
be offered to each midwife.
To cope with the increased number of births in the district
it has been necessary to appoint an extra relief midwife for service
throughout the whole Borough, and also a non-medical supervisor
who commenced her duties in May of this year. A training scheme
in conjunction with the Luton Maternity Hospital for the Part 2
examination of the Central Midwives Board has been inaugurated
to assist in providing suitable recruits for the services.
With regard to maternity and child welfare generally, it has
been found necessary to appoint an additional medical officer
whose duties are mainly in connection with the ten additional
clinic sessions inaugurated this year, and with other general work
in the department. Two weekly Specialist Obstetrical Clinics are
now available to all expectant mothers within the Borough, and
it is hoped that every expectant mother will be able to attend at
least once before her confinement.
One of the most important discoveries so far made in medical
genetics is the Rhesus blood factor, which probably causes more
foetal mortality and more noe-natal and maternal morbidity than
does any other single condition. It is with pleasure that I record
that arrangements have now been completed to reduce these risks
to both mother and child by having ante-natal blood tests performed,
as a routine, on all expectant mothers attending the
municipal clinics.
Psychology is advancing in the field of Social Welfare. In
natal work it was formerly regarded as sufficient if a healthy