View report page

Sessions held (Medical Officer in attendance) 374.
Ante-Natal relaxation and post-natal exercises are taught in all the clinics. 563
women made 3,349 attendances at these clinics during the year.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Cranbrook Committee, who suggested
that general practitioner obstetricians could work in the ante-natal clinics of
local authorities, approval was given to a group of family doctors in Barnes for the use
of Essex House on one half day per week for an ante-natal and post-natal session. The
object was to incorporate their own session with the existing local authority session.
Other individual or group of family doctors would be afforded the same facility if they
so desired. A second group is now using the clinic.
Incidence of Congenital Malformations
Since 1st January, 1964 the Ministry of Health have required all congenital
malformations in new-born babies to be notified by Local Health Authorities to the
Registrar General, so as to enable the latter to complete statistical information from
which to detect any national or regional changes in the pattern of congenital malformations.
The number of babies born with defects during 1966 was 76.
Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations
Four cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified during the year. All occurred in
domiciliary practice and subsequently recovered.
Family Planning
In Circular 5/66, dated 17th February, 1966, the Minister of Health urged local
authorities to review current arrangements for family planning advice and treatment
in their area and suggested ways in which in co-operation with the Family Planning
Association and similar bodies, the local services might be further developed for the
welfare of their citizens.
The Council has made arrangements through the Family Planning Association
for advice and treatment (including supplies) to be given to women to whom pregnancy
would be detrimental to health. This service is provided free of charge to the patients,
the Council accepting financial responsibility for patients in this category referred for
advice and treatment by its own medical officers. During 1966 nine such patients
were referred.
There remains the wider need of advice and prescription for those who desire to
achieve the aim of planned parenthood although no specific danger to health is involved.
There is undoubtedly a very heavy demand for advice and prescription on social
grounds but the local authority has no statutory powers as yet financially to assist this
type of patient.
The Council does not operate family planning clinics of its own but has made
available to the Family Planning Association the free use of three of its clinics
16