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55
Section 22. CARE OF MOTHERS
AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Welfare Foods Service
Prom the 1st June, 1961, under the directions of the Minister
of Health, orange juice, cod liver oil and vitamin tablets
distributed through the Welfare Poods Service have been sold at
prices which cover the cost, i.e. orange juice l/6d. per bottle
instead of 5d., and in place of free supplies of cod liver oil and
vitamin tablets these have been sold at 1/Od. per bottle and 6d. a
packet respectively, tokens not being required for these purchases.
From this date orange juice has been obtainable for children up to
the age of 5 years instead of 2 years as previously. The only tokens
now in use for orange juice, cod liver oil and vitamin tablets as
distinct from those for liquid or dried milk, are those issued for
free supplies by the National Assistance Board or the Ministry of
Labour.
Details of issues are given in the table on page 68,
Section 23 MIDWIFERY
During the year 23 pupil midwives from Thorpe Coombe Maternity
Hospital undertook their district midwifery training at the Nurses'
Homes, and all passed the examination.
The retirement of two teaching midwives towards the end of the
year brought about a serious situation in the District Midwifery
Service. The two midwives with their pupils ha.d been undertaking
180 cases annually and the remaining midwives were all working to
capacity. Thus, taking into account the increasing number of home
confinements, unless replacements could be recruited there would be
a minimum of 200 babies born in Walthamstow during the following
year without the aid of a midwife. Unfortunately repeated advert
isements had failed to attract applicants.
Against this background of approaching emergency, consultations
were held with hospital and general practitioner representatives in
order to try and solve the immediate problem.
Meantime letters were sent to some 200 non-practising qualified
midwives resident in Walthamstow and district inviting application for
thevacantposts. As a result of these letters, and the efforts of our
associates in hospital and elsewhere, we were able to recruit four
midwives. This was made possible by the co-operation of the
Walthamstow Borough Council who made housing accommodation available
for two of the midwives. The third midwife occupied a house owned
by the County Council and made vacant by one of the retirements.
The fourth midwife already had her own home just outside the Borough.
She had not practised midwifery for a good many years and was given
a comprehensive refresher course at Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital