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45
Section 22—Care of Mothers and Young Children.
The implementation of the proposals under this section at the
end of the year were as follows:—
Augmentation of the dental care of expectant mothers whereby
examination and treatment is afforded to every case when found
necessary.
The services of a consultant anaesthetist are available for such
treatment. Similarly, supervision of nursing mothers is maintained
throughout the lactation period.
Special sessions for dental inspection, advice and treatment
arc held for children under two years of age. Arrangements for
toddlers have also been made through the school health dental
service.
Maternity outfits are now provided free on application.
Nursery provision—a site has been acquired and plans have
been approved for the erection of a day nursery at Rancliffe Road
in the south of the borough : provision will be afforded in the
plans for the day-minding of children.
Unmarried mothers—arrangements with the Essex Voluntary
Committee for the care of the unmarried mother and her child
have been completed.
For details of times and places of various clinics, reference
should be made to Table 4.
It should be noted that reciprocal arrangements with the
L.C.C. and West Ham were concluded whereby mothers and
children may attend the clinic nearest to their homes.
The senior dental officer reports as follows in regard to the
dental treatment provided for expectant and nursing mothers
and young children during the year 1948:—
Two sessions per week are devoted to the dental treatment of
patients under the M. & C.W. scheme. Owing to shortage of
staff the treatment offered is of a very limited character. We are
unable to provide dental officers for routine examination of mothers
and babies and those patients needing treatment are referred to
the dental clinics by the M.O.'s of the welfare centres. A great
many of these patients are in pain when referred and in nearly
every case teeth have to be extracted. However, the demand for
conservative treatment is gradually increasing and an average of
3.8 fillings per session during the past year is a great improvement
on the previous year's figures.