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36
War-time Day Nurseries.—The Governors of Dr. Barnardo's Homes
have kindly granted the use of Sunshine House, in the grounds of the Girls'
Village Homes, Barkingside, at a nominal rent of 10s. per week, for use
as a war-time Day Nursery for mothers in employment.
The Nursery accommodates 45 children under 5 years of age and was
opened on the 17th August, 1942. The Nursery is open each week-day
and the average daily attendance during the period ended 31st December.
1942, was 27 children. The Nursery was in quarantine for a period of
7 days as two children were notified as suffering from Scarlet Fever.
Treatment op Minor Ailments.—Children suffering from simple
dietetic ailments are treated at the Infant Welfare Centres. 43 belts and
3 trusses have been supplied to infants suffering from hernia during 1942.
A certain number of infants were brought to the Clinics at Newbury Hall and
All Saints' Church Hall to receive treatment for minor ailments.
49 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. 7 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 12 State certified midwives (including the
Superintendent and 9 Council midwives) resident and practising in the
district. In addition there were at the end of the year, 19 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 one case,
amounting to £1 5s. Od.
Four midwives were suspended from practice for varying periods
following attendance on four cases rendering them liable to be a source of
infection as follows:—(i) Puerperal Pyrexia due to retained chorion; (ii)
Puerperal Pyrexia due to mastitis; (iii) Scarlet Fever and (iv) Non-notifiable
Pyrexia following retained membranes.
Three of the midwives were in the employ of the Council and the other
midwife was a domiciliary midwife in the employ of the Salvation Army.
Medical aid was sought in 33 instances where the infant was found to
have inflamed or discharging eyes. Three of the cases were subsequently
notified as suffering from Ophthalmia Neonatorum. In all cases the
condition of the eyes 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 931 cases were
attended by the nine Council District Midwives. In 552 cases the midwives
were engaged to attend as midwives and in 379 as maternity nurses. The
cases resided in the following wards : Barkingside 184; North Hainault 140;
Cranbrook48; Park 81; Seven Kings 84; South Hainault 115; Loxford 101;
Clementswood 107; Goodmayes71.
4,262 ante-natal visits were made during the year.
44 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.
Fifty-five patients were referred by the private Doctors to the Council's
Consulting Obstetrician at the Ante-Natal Clinic for a further opinion.
13 of these women and 21 other patients who had engaged a Council Midwife
(24 as a midwife and 10 as a maternity nurse) were, for various reasons,