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40
mothers for work of National importance. Now the day nurseries are
taking a share in the field of preventive medicine by admission of medicosocial
cases and more especially in the sphere of mental health.
An analysis of admissions at one of the day nurseries in the area
shows that 14 maladjusted children were admitted on recommendations
by the Child Guidance Clinic or the medical officers. All these were
admitted for a period of not less than three months and progress reports
were submitted. Eleven children were admitted due to the illness of
mother; these children would almost certainly have had to be taken into
care if the day nurseries were not available. Seven children were admitted
owing to the illness of the father.
A typical case is as follows :—
The mother had a very disturbed and insecure family background.
She married in her teens and had two children in 18
months, and lived in cramped surroundings with the maternal grandmother.
The family were a constant problem and when the older
boy was 3½ years of age the children were referred to the Child
Guidance Clinic.
At this time the mother was extremely unstable. The children
were undernourished and maladjusted whilst the father was weak and
defeated by his unhappiness. The mother alternately rejected her
children or became over indulgent. Both children were admitted to
the nursery and after four months the younger child is making
excellent physical and mental progress. However, the older boy is
still giving cause for anxiety. He is still anti-social and has a very
real anxiety neurosis. The mother's general condition is much improved
and the psychiatrist is hopeful of the general outcome.
Midwifery.
The number of confinements taking place in hospital seems to have
settled down at a figure representing just over 80% of all confinements.
There does not appear to be any undue shortage of maternity beds in
the hospitals that cater for the Leyton cases. This preference for hospital
confinement makes it difficult for pupil midwives to obtain the
practical domiciliary training that is necessary. The two local health
authority midwives assist in the training of the pupils from The Lady
Rayleigh Training Home.
Health Visiting.
The health visitors in the Area have carried out more health education
during the year, and the visiting of old people still takes a
considerable amount of time. The number of old people on the Register
has increased by 50% during the year and there are now 750 who are
receiving visits and advice from the health visiting staff. Attention is
drawn in the relevant sections of the Report to the work of the health
visiting staff on health education in schools and the introduction of a
Mothers' Club.