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had four or more children get priority, and cases of multiple pregnancy,
women aged 35 years or more, where there is a long interval between
the children, or where the parents were attending an Infertility Clinic,
or were married for 10 years or more without a family.
Hospital confinement is also considered wise for all small women
(those under 5 feet in height). Priority is recommended for these
categories because they carry greater liability to complications.
Assessment of the social conditions of patients is made by Local
Authority Nursing Staff.
Post Natal Care. As mentioned, 90 of the mothers attending the
ante-natal clinics were confined at home. All were urged to return for
post-natal examination, but only 51 (or 60%) did so. The importance
of post-natal care cannot be over-emphasised, and every mother
should ensure that she returns either to the hospital, general practitioner
or the ante-natal clinic as the case may be for an examination.
Clinic Premises
The first purpose built clinic to be erected in Romford was
provided by the Borough Council at Marks Road and opened in 1934.
A second clinic was built at Hulse Avenue and came into use during
1940.
With the L.C.C. development at Harold Hill a Health Centre was
provided at Gooshays Drive to cater for the 30,000 population of this
Estate.
Despite the steady increase in population over the years no
further clinics were provided by the Essex County Council who assumed
responsibility for such development in 1948.
The accommodation at the existing clinics is now inadequate to
cope with the various services which local Health Authorities are
required to provide, and it is necessary to provide additional accommodation
as soon as possible.
Infant Welfare sessions are held at hired premises in three instances,
and it would be well worth considering transferring these se ions from
Church Halls to buildings designed for Health Services purposes.
Additional services could then be provided such as Mothercraft and
Relaxation, Chiropody, Immunisation, etc.
Infant Welfare
Attendances at the Child Welfare Clinics during 1960 are given
below:—
No. of children born in 1960 who attended 1,269
Total number of children who attended 3,144
Total attendances 21,103
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