London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Harrow 1934

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]

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59
The number of persons on the register who were receiving
children for reward at the end of the year was fifty-four, and the
number of foster children 134. Most foster mothers undertake
the care of one child only, a small number being registered for the
care of two, and still smaller numbers for more than two. The
large difference between the number of children and the number of
foster mothers is accounted for by there being in the district a
number of nursery homes for the reception of small children, one
being registered for 18 and another for 22.
Each Health Visitor is appointed Infant Protection Visitor of
her area.
MATERNITY SERVICES.
Ante-Natal Supervision.
Most of the ante-natal work in the district, apart from that
carried out by the medical practitioners on their own patients, is
carried out by the Council of Child Welfare at " Tyneholme," to
whom, in respect of these services, the Council makes a grant.
Starting with a weekly session the work so increased as to warrant
sessions twice weekly. At the Elmwood and the Broadway Clinics
in Wealdstone monthly sessions were held, but towards the end
of the year these were held weekly. The Middlesex County Council
also held a monthly clinic at St. George's Hall, Headstone, and
expectant mothers were seen at the Infant Welfare Clinics.

The following table shows the work carried out at the Clinics during the year.

Total number of attendances by expectant mothers at all clinics1,354
Total number of expectant mothers who attended clinics465
Percentage of total notified births (live and still) represented by the number of expectant mothers who attended the clinics25

The Council at their meeting on January 1st, 1935, approved
the recommendation of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee
approving of a scheme by which ante-natal supervision of
uninsured women be carried out by the patient's own medical
attendant, the Council paying the fees for such ante-natal and one
post-natal examination.
To remove the objection sometimes raised that a midwife
might lose her fee if a patient she refers to the clinic is sent on
medical grounds to hospital for confinement, provision is now
made for the payment of compensation to a midwife for a case
lost to her in this manner.