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33
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
Care of Mothers
Arrangements for the care of expectant and nursing mothers and
their children continued. The trend towards hospital confinements was
such that few babies were delivered at home. During the year the
domiciliary midwifery service was integrated with that of the hospital,
giving an improvement in continuity between hospital delivery and
domiciliary after-care.
Developmental Assessment
All births notified in the area were recorded on the computer and
recall arranged at regular intervals, e.g. 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, etc.
At these ages the child's mental and physical development were tested and
compared with accepted norms. Any gross deviation was referred for full
assessment to the Assessment Clinic at Northwick Park Hospital.
The Controller of Health Services, who had special expertise in
testing the intelligence of babies, worked with the Paediatrician in making
a complete assessment of the child's conditions and requirements.
Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, health
visitors and social workers all played a role in this comprehensive
assessment of the child.
The computer was also programmed to recall children at the age of
7 months for a hearing test and at appropriate ages for the various
immunisation procedures.