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CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics
Number of cases attended:
Ante-Natal Attendances Post-Natal Attendances
601 2,772 100 100
Sessions held (medical officer in attendance) 247.
Ante-natal relaxation and post-natal exercises are taught in all the clinics. 557
women made 2,732 attendances at these clinics during the year.
Incidence of Congenital Malformations
Since 1st January, 1964 the Ministry of Health (now the Department of Health
and Social Security) 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 1968 was 59.
Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations
One case of puerperal pyrexia was notified during the year from a local maternity
unit. The patient lived in the Borough and subsequently recovered.
Family Planning
The Council made arrangements in 1965 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 1968 ten such patients were
referred.
The Council does not operate family planning clinics but has made available to
the Family Planning Association the free use of four of its clinics (Hampton Wick;
Kings Road, Richmond; Whitton, and Windham Road, Richmond) for the purpose
of holding family planning sessions.
I stated in my report for 1967 that the National Health Service (Family Planning
Act), 1967 received the Royal Assent on 28th June, 1967; that at the end of the year
discussions were still going on between the London Boroughs Association and the
Family Planning Association in an effort to formulate recommendations for a common
policy amongst the London Boroughs, and that this Council, in common with most of
the London Boroughs, had not made a decision concerning the implementation of the
Act. It became apparent in the early months of the year that the various local difficulties
weie such that no common policy amongst the London Boroughs was likely to
be achieved. Accordingly the Social Services Committee, in consideration of the various
alternative methods of implementing the Act suggested by me, took the view that in
dealing with the matter the Council should confine itself at the present time to the
medical aspect thereof and should not at the expense of the ratepayers, provide a
"social" service which was being adequately met by private arrangements and to the
substance of which there was still considerable public opposition. The Committee's
recommendations which formed the basis of the Council's decision was that the following
services should be provided as from 1st April, 1969: —
(a) Medical cases to be dealt with at the Council's "Well Woman" Clinics.
(b) A domiciliary service be provided, by arrangement with the Family
Planning Association, for "problem" families.
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