View report page

2
investigation aiming at collecting information which would enable
the Joint Committee to make informed suggestions as to whether,
and in what ways, it would be possible to help mothers with the
social and economic problems that they meet in bearing children.
The final report of this Committee is not yet available.
The year was a busy one for all members of the Health
Department, acute staffing difficulties being experienced in all
services. Difficulty was experienced in coping with the volume
of work involved in action under the Housing and Food and Drugs
Acts. The more personal services provided by the Department
are fully utilised by the public and attendances at all Clinics have
been heavy, one exception being the post-natal clinics where, as
yet, mothers are not fully appreciative of the importance of a
medical overhaul shortly after childbirth.
Arrangements were made for the showing of films on various
health matters at one of the Welfare Centres, at a special session
set aside for this purpose, but the attendance was disappointing.
A subsequent film show on Nursery Schools and other subjects
at another Welfare Centre was more successful.
The former war-time nurseries of the Ministry of Health were
transferred to the Local Authority who continued the provision
of three as day nurseries on similar lines as formerly. They have
been working to capacity with unfortunately long waiting lists,
which have increased since the recall of mothers with young
children to industry. It is disappointing that so few girls appear
interested in becoming Student Nursery Nurses. The usefulness
of the work and the excellent training, which should be of inestimable
value to girls, no matter what sphere of life they ultimately
choose, are factors which one would expect to appeal to many
girls.
One feature of considerable satisfaction was our ability to
re-commence in a modified form the Home Help scheme, and the
services of Home Helps were provided in 40 cases, priority being
given to homes in which childbirth had occurred, although on a
few occasions it was found possible to provide the services in
cases of illness or other domestic emergencies. It can be said
with emphasis that a Home Help scheme, although domestic rather
than medical in nature, is one that plays a most important part in
the health and well-being of mothers at the time of their confinement,
and the importance of such a service cannot be over
estimated.
In conclusion I should like to record my appreciation of the
efforts of the staff of the Health Department during a year when
shortage of staff and frequent changes made their tasks more
onerous.
WILLIAM D. HYDE,
Medical Officer of Health.