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CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Under Section 22 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, it is the duty of
every local health authority to make arrangements for the care, including in particular
dental care, of expectant and nursing mothers and of children who have not
attained the age of five years and are not attending primary schools maintained by
a local education authority.
Ante-natal and Post-natal Sessions
A total of 894 women attended the ante-natal clinics and 540 attended for a
post-natal examination. Many women attend their family doctor or hospital for
their post-natal examination. The further drop in numbers compared with last
year seems indicative of the continuing tendency for expectant mothers to be cared
for by the general practitioner and hospital services.
Mothercraft and relaxation classes for expectant mothers, held in clinics
throughout the borough, were attended by 645 women. These classes continue to
be popular and many of the general practitioners who undertake the ante-natal
care of their patients still refer their patients to the clinics for relaxation classes.
Child Welfare Sessions
The 2,067 sessions held during the year were attended by 12,168 children. The
total number of attendances was 97,199 compared with 101,925 last year. It is
significant that although the number of attendances is contrary to the trend of recent
years, the actual number of children brought to the clinics remains virtually the
same.
At the ages of three months, seven months, one year, eighteen months, two,
three and four years, each child in the borough is invited to attend a clinic for
the purposes of medical examination and immunisation and vaccination if this is
not being arranged through the family doctor. In this way it is hoped to achieve
regular supervision of the health of the child as well as routine immunisation.
Child Welfare Centres
Towards the end of the year the report of the sub-committee of the Standing
Medical Advisory Committee on Child Welfare Centres was published by the
Minister of Health. This thorough and valuable report represents the first ad hoc
review of the Child Health Service administered by local authorities. The report
makes a number of recommendations for improving the service but firmly endorses
the basic principles of routine mcdical inspections and health education which
have been adhered to since the days of the pioneer child welfare centres.
The report and its recommendations were still under consideration at the end
of the year.
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