View report page

(8)
The Antenatal Clinic becomes more popular every year.
In 1942, 820 women made 3827 attendances, more than twice
as many as attended in 1938.
During the year a Postnatal Clinic was started at the
Health Centre for the examination of women sometime after
confinement, in order to detect any defects which may have
developed as the result of confinement. Such defects, If
discovered at an early stage, can usually be remedied
fairly easily, but, If they are neglected, they may give
rise to chronic suffering and ill health.
The demand for hospital accommodation was greater than
ever, and frequently great difficulty was experienced in
finding places for women, whose circumstances were such
that a home confinement was quite out of the question.
Out of a total of 835 births, where the place of birth
was known, 523 took place in hospitals and nursing homes
and 312 at home. Two hundred and thirty two cases wore
attended by the Council's Midwives.
Vitamin preparations were distributed from the First
Aid Posts and the Welfare Centres, and clothing coupons
for expectant mothers from the Public Health Department.
DAY NURSERIES.
The Day Nursery at the Health Centre was well attended
throughout the year. Children up to 3 years of age are
admitted and, when they are three years old, they are
transferred to the Nursery Class at the Martin School.
The two War-time Nurseries, one In Moss Hall Crescent
with 60 places and the other in Regents Park Road with 52
places, were well patronised, in fact, they would have been
filled to capacity at all times had it not been for the
frequent visitations of the common infectious diseases.
Another Nursery is in course of erection in Torrington Park.