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8
Dental Treatment. The numbers of mothers and of children under five
attending the dental clinics were 343 and 241 respectively, and the number of
tuberculous persons was 5. The total number of attendances was 1,514.
Minor Ailments. The number of children under five years of age referred
to school clinics for treatment of minor ailments was 308.
Issue of Fruit Juices and other Supplements. The distribution of the
Government fruit juices and cod liver oil was continued throughout the year at the
food offices and at certain welfare centres.
Midwifery Services. No change took place during the year in the midwifery
services which were dealt with fully in the Annual Report for 1945.
During the year 1,304 mothers were admitted to the British Hospital for Mothers
and Babies. Of these, 812 were Woolwich mothers, 311 of whom were admitted
under the Council's scheme. The number of admissions to the maternity unit of
the War Memorial Hospital was 296. Of these, 186 were Woolwich mothers, 70
of whom were admitted under the Council's scheme. Admissions to the Eltham
Cottage Hospital numbered 59.
Care of Premature Infants. The action taken in connection with the
care of premature infants is in conformity with the Ministry of Health Circular
No. 20/44.
The number of babies born in the Borough whose birth weight was 5½ lbs. or
less was 74. Of these, 44 were born in hospital and 30 in private houses. Of those
born in hospital, 3 died during the first twenty-four hours and 36 survived at the
end of four weeks. Of those born in private houses, 8 were admitted to hospital;
3 died during the first twenty-four hours and 25 survived at the end of four weeks.
No applications for the loan of draught-proof cots or other equipment or for the
services of the Consultant Paediatrician were received.
Home Helps. The Council's scheme provides for domestic assistance in
confinement cases and in cases of illness where the housewife is incapacitated.
The total number of cases in which domestic help was provided was 376; 241 in
confinement cases and 135 in cases of illness. Whereas the home help is employed
in the majority of maternity cases for two weeks, in many of the cases of illness,
particularly where old people are concerned, the period of employment is of much
longer duration.
Care of Illegitimate Children. The only direct provision for the care
of illegitimate infants is provided by a scheme for guaranteed payments to foster
mothers undertaking the care of such infants. The Council, however, makes a
contribution to a fund administered by the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint
Committee to provide financial assistance to Moral Welfare Associations. Welfare
work in this connection is carried out by each health visitor in her own area, but
there is close contact between the health visitors and the welfare workers of the
Moral Welfare Association working in the Borough. Only one application was
received during the year for assistance under the "guaranteed payments" scheme.