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STAFF
In addition to my duties as Medical Officer of Health for the Borough,
I am in administrative control of Part III Services under the
National Health Service Act, 1946, sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28
and 29. There are normally two medical officers of the Essex County
Council working in the Borough and undertaking duties appertaining
to Maternity and Child Welfare, as well as three practitioners who
regularly attend Child Welfare Clinics being employed on a sessional
basis.
In my report for 1957 I referred to the retirement of Dr. E. L. Ewan
who had been employed as School Medical Officer in the Borough of
Wanstead and Woodford for over 29 years. Dr. Ewan was replaced
by Dr. J. W. Kirkbride who subsequently resigned to take up an
appointment abroad and who has now been succeeded by Dr. T. T.
Jones. Dr. Jones has since been appointed as Deputy Medical Officer
of Health to act in my absence from the Borough.
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN (Section 22)
There were 645 attendances at the ante-natal clinic at 118 Hermon
Hill.
At this clinic, sessions are held weekly, midwives examining their
own patients and working in close co-operation with the general practitioners
concerned.
One general practitioner conducts an ante-natal clinic for his own
patients at his surgery, with a Local Authority midwife in attendance.
The scheme works well and achieves a maximum of co-operation between
doctor and midwife.
All expectant mothers have a blood specimen taken for examination
and all with a rhesus negative result are advised to have their confinement
in hospital.
Mothers booked for hospital confinement attend the ante-natal
clinic for routine intermediate examinations. In the event of any abnormality
becoming manifest, the case is referred at once to the
Obstetrician at the Hospital.
About 65 per cent of the births in the Borough take place in hospital.
Discharges are notified promptly and are followed up by either
the Midwife or Health Visitor depending on the day following delivery
on which the discharge takes place.
A very good liaison is maintained with the Maternity Department
of Wanstead Hospital.
RELAXATION EXERCISES
These classes are becoming more and more popular with expectant
mothers and three weekly sessions are now held at 118 Hermon Hill.
Normally 6—8 women constitute a class, these classes forming a
means whereby the Health Visitor can give short talks on preparation
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