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9
Towards the end of the year, arrangements had been made for
the appointment of a 6th midwife for the district. This was the
number which, on the introduction of the Midwives Act, 1936, was
visualised as being required for the area. The 6th midwife will
commence duties early in 1943.
In addition to the Council Midwives, there are 3 Midwives in
independent practice in the District, and also 5 District Nurse
Midwives. Five Midwives, resident outside the Borough, also
undertook cases in the District during the year.
(iv) Hospitals: Public and Voluntary.
(a) Infectious Diseases.
(b) Maternity.
(c) Children.
(d) Other Cases.
There is nothing new to report in either of these sections.
2.—MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
(i) Ante-natal Clinics.
Sessions for this purpose continued as before, as also the Consultative
Ante-natal Clinic at Oldchurch Hospital.
During the year 1942, 1,021 individual expectant mothers
attended the Clinics. In addition 21 mothers attended for postnatal
advice.
In all 199 sessions were held during the year. The total number
of attendances of the 1,042 mothers mentioned above was
4,354 giving an average of 4.2 attendances per patient. The average
number attending at each session was 21.9.
(ii) Infant Welfare Clinics.
Sessions for Infant Welfare purposes also continuued on the
lines indicated in my Interim Eeport for 1941.
Full advantage was again taken of the National Milk Scheme
of the Ministry of Food, and, for this purpose, close co-operation
was maintained with the Local Food Office.
Vitamin preparations, in the form of fruit juices and cod liver
oil, continued to be distributed at each of the Child Welfare Centres,
in addition to distribution at the Town Hall and the Food Office,
and towards the end of the year arrangements were made for
distribution at each of the Ante-natal Clinics when the scheme was
extended to expectant mothers.