View report page

36
Treatment of Minor Ailments.—Children suffering from simple
dietetic ailments are treated at the Infant Welfare Centres. 47 belts and
4 trusses have been supplied to infants suffering from hernia during 1941.
A certain number of infants were brought to the Clinics at Newbury Hall and
All Saints' Church Hall to receive treatment for minor ailments.
44 children under 5 years of age were operated upon at Queen Mary's
Hospital, Stratford, and at King George Hospital, Ilford, for removal of
tonsils and adenoids. 8 were treated free of charge as cases of necessity.
By arrangement with the Invalid Children's Aid Association 1 child
under 5 years of age was sent to a Convalescent Home for a period of 10 weeks.
The Council contributed £2 5s. Od. towards the cost of the maintenance
of the child.
Midwives.—There are 13 State certified midwives (including the
Superintendent and 9 Council midwives) resident and practising in the
district, and I certified midwife residing outside Ilford, but practising in
Ilford. In addition there were at the end of the year, 10 State certified
midwives at the Council's Maternity Home and 2 at a private nursing home
in Ilford.
Their supervision has been carried out as in previous years.
The Council paid the balance of a private midwife's fee in three cases,
amounting to £4 19s. 3d.
Five midwives were suspended from practice for varying periods
following attendance on five cases rendering them liable to be a source of
infection. Four of the cases only were notified as Puerperal Pyrexia. All
of the midwives were in the employ of the Council. The causes of the
Pyrexia of the 4 cases were as follows:—(1) Phlebitis. (2) Infection of
uterus. (3) Anaemia following post partum haemorrhage. (4) Thrombophlebitis
of pelvic veins. The other patient had a non-notifiable Pyrexia
due to general condition and shock.
Medical aid was sought in 28 instances where the infant was found to
have inflamed or discharging eyes. Five of the cases were subsequently
notified as suffering from Ophthalmia Neonatorum. In all cases the
condition of the eye3 cleared satisfactorily.
The Council has adopted the suggestion of the Minister of Health that
they should refrain from exercising their power of recovery of the fee of the
Medical Practitioner under Section 14 (4) of the Midwives Act, 1918, in
this class of case.
Council District Midwifery Service.—During the year 615 cases were
attended by the nine Council District Midwives. In 376 cases the midwives
were engaged to attend as midwives and in 239 as maternity nurses. The
cases resided in the following wards: Barkingside 126; North Hainault 106;
Cranbrook30; Park 43; Seven Kings 63; South Hainault 101; Loxford60;
Clementswood 46; Goodmayes 40.
3,438 ante-natal visits were made during the year.
47 medical practitioners are now participating in the Council's scheme
for the ante-natal examination of patients who have engaged a Council
Midwife to attend them.
Forty-nine patients were referred by the private Doctors to the Council's
Consulting Obstetrician at the Ante-Natal Clinic for a further opinion.
23 of these women and 14 other patients who had engaged a Council Midwife
(27 as a midwife and 10 as a maternity nurse) were, for various reasons,
admitted to the Council's Maternity Home or other Hospitals for confinement.
29 were admitted to the Maternity Home, and 8 to Oldchurch Hospital,
Romford.
In addition five patients were admitted to the Maternity Home following
confinement for various reasons. Three patients who had engaged the
Council's midwives were admitted to the Council's Maternity Home for