View report page

96
Arrangements continued in operation for each of the midwives using
cars in the course of their duties to hold a machine at their respective
homes to take with them to their own cases and there are also machines
stored at the Ambulance Station for the use of the remaining midwives.
With regard to the latter, the relatives of the patient are requested to
collect a machine, where possible, but when they cannot do this, arrangements
are made for a machine to be transported from the Ambulance
Station to the house by a hired car, or failing this, by an ambulance vehicle.
The Salvation Army midwives also have two machines which are
kept at their Branch Home and taken or sent to the home of the patient
when required.
The service is freely available to all having home confinements,
provided there are no medical contra-indications, and each expectant
mother on booking the midwife is supplied with a leaflet explaining the
nature and the availability of the service.

All patients booked for admission to the Maternity Hospital are
medically examined at the ante-natal clinics. The first examination takes
place at the 10th week of pregnancy, or as soon as possible after that
time if the booking for hospital admission is not made until after the 10th
week. Further, arrangements are made for all hospital booked patients to
see the Obstetric Registrar at either the Ilford Maternity Hospital or the
Mayesbrook Ante-Natal Clinic at about the 35th week of pregnancy.
In conjunction with the ante-natal clinics at the Manford Way and
Mayesbrook Clinics the Health Visitors hold classes for relaxation exercises.
During 1963 there were 98 sessions at the Mayesbrook Clinic,
with 1,016 attendances, and 99 sessions at Manford Way Clinic, with 608
attendances. A weekly session was also run by Health Visitors at