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22
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
Peter A. Currie, m.r.c.s., l.r.c.p., Senior Medical Officer.
The various sub-divisions of this section have settled down
and are learning their interdependence on each other for the
furtherance of the welfare of the mother and her child.
The Borough has inherited a very high level of protective
immunisation which will not be allowed to fall.
There have been many babies thought to be "at risk" for
various reasons. It is difficult to assess what is "at risk", as
there is often very little information available at first as to the
condition of the baby at birth. During the year there have been
sixty children notified within the area as suffering from congenital
malformations recognisable at birth.
Particular attention is being concentrated on the early recognition
of deafness, and Stycar sets have been made available to all
Medical Officers at the Infant Welfare Clinics. The appointment
of a peripatetic teacher of the deaf is eagerly awaited, so that active
treatment can be instituted, for example, by the provision of
auditory trainers with which the mother can help her child at
home, under supervision.
The Health Visitor reports any suspected defect, however
slight, which might possibly handicap a child, and this information
is passed to the School Health and Mental Health sections,
so that some indication of future requirements, both educational
and social, may be obtained.
Following discussions, a pilot scheme for the early detection of
Cervical Cancer was introduced at the latter end of the year, with
the very active and unstinted help of the Pathologists and their
staffs at two local hospitals.
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.
Care of Unmarried Mother and her child
During the year financial liability for residential care at voluntary
homes was accepted for 53 unmarried mothers. The average
length of stay for each mother was thirteen weeks.