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Personal Health Services
ANTE AND POST-NATAL CLINICS
Although each of the three branches of the National Health Service currently have a statutory
responsibility for ante-natal and post-natal care, there is an increasing trend for such care to be
provided by the family doctor except in respect of patients who require specialist obstetric supervision.
The figures given below indicate that a larger number of sessions (1010) were held at which
the attendance of patients (862) was somewhat lower than the previous year. This apparent contradiction
is explained partially by the overall reduction in number of domiciliary deliveries and
partially by the increasing general practitioner supervision of care described above. The number of
domiciliary deliveries in the area is still greater than the average in London especially amongst
mothers who may be considered at greater risk of obstetric complications. The trend towards
general practitioner supervision has resulted in fewer patients being seen in any one session since,
whilst these are of shorter duration, the family doctor is unlikely to have as many patients attending a
clinic in his practice as would attend a specialist ante-natal clinic organised by a hospital department
or by a local health authority.
Number of women in attendance
Number of sessions held by
Total number
of Sessions
For ante-natal
examination
For post-natal
examination
Medical Officers
Midwives
847 15 33 977 1,010
The number attending the Relaxation and Mothercraft classes was 1,010 representing a
decrease of 0-7% compared with 1971. Since the birth rate declined to a greater extent the proportion
of mothers attending these classes showed a marginal increase. Classes were held at 14 clinics
and the total number of attendances during the year was 5,923, an increase of 1 2% compared with
previous year.
Training for health visitors and others concerned with ante-natal care and mothercraft teaching
continued during the year so that all those undertaking such classes were aware of modern developments
in technique.
MIDWIVES ACT 1902-1951
The number of midwives who notified their intention to practice as midwives within the
Borough (including those in hospitals) and who were practising at the end of the year was 83.
All held the certificate of the Central Midwives Board. One of the principal nursing officers is also
non-medical supervisor of midwives and undertakes the necessary visiting and investigation
appropriate to the Council's statutory responsibilities in this area.
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
The Registrar General requires information concerning children who are discovered at the time
of their birth to have an obvious congenital malformation. Regular returns are forwarded to the
Registrar General based upon information received from local midwives at the time that the birth is
notified to this department in accordance with the Notification of Births Act 1907. A total of 64
children with congenital conditions were notified in 1972.
CONGENITAL ERRORS OF METABOLISM
There are a number of rare diseases caused by metabolic defects which can now be identified
shortly after birth. Principal amongst these is phenylketonuria which, if untreated, leads to irreversible
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