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23
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee considered each
one of the aforementioned headings.
It was considered that for the moment the nine sessions held
monthly for the examination of ante-natal cases was sufficient, but
that, in view of the fact that the numbers were increasing, it would
be wise to consider the possibility of increasing the number of clinics
when the new Clinics in course of erection were completed, as the
cost then would be considerably less than holding them in hired
premises.
The Committee noted that arrangements had already been
made for the treatment of dental defects and the provison of dentures,
but arranged with the Education Committee for treatment
of ante-natal and nursing mothers at the School Ophthalmic Clinic
if they were suffering from defects of the eyes or bad eyesight.
This scheme has been put into operation and is proving
successful.
Arrangements already existed whereby individual application
for the services of a midwife could be considered by the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee, and a midwife provided free where
the Committee considered this to be necessary.
Following upon the Circular of the Ministry of Health, the
Committee determined to pay for the service of a midwife in every
case where the income of the family was below a certain scale, and
this, whether a doctor was in attendance or not. The midwives
and doctors of the District have been circulated and informed of
this scheme. It was not until the end of the year that the effect
of the scheme was felt, but applications for the services of a midwife
have increased in number during the first few months of 1935.
Complicated maternity cases have been regularly admitted to
the North Middlesex County Hospital and a few to the Enfield War
Memorial Hospital.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee was not aware
of any case where admission had been refused. The Council, however,
have under consideration the possibility of erecting a Maternity
Home, either under the direct control of the Council, or in conjunction
with other districts or voluntary associations, and meetings
are being held to consider alternative suggestions. In the meanwhile
the Council has been given to understand that the number of
maternity beds at the North Middlesex County Hospital has been
increased, and that there is a possibility of an even larger increase
in the future should this be found to be necessary.
Cases of puerperal sepsis and other cases needing isolation and
special nursing have been admitted in the past to the Enfield and
Edmonton Joint Isolation Hospital. This procedure has worked
satisfactorily, and the Committee did not propose to take any