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examined at the Council's clinics:—
Women tested 2,073
Negative results 2,065
Positive results 8
Gynaecological defects referred to
general practitioners 375
Referred to general practitioners for
other reasons 14
Carcinoma in situ was confirmed in six of the
eight patients with positive smears. They were all
married women between 32 and 59 years of age.
Care of Mothers and Young
Children Section 22
Ante-natal Clinics
The trend of decreasing attendance in both
ante-natal and post-natal care has continued at
medical officer clinics as the pattern of ante-natal
care and post-natal care by the mother's general
practitioner becomes more firmly established.
This year there were 211 medical officer sessions,
the attendances at which totalled 1,159. One
hundred and thirty-eight sessions with a midwife
only in attendance were held, the attendances at
which totalled 917. Many mothers, however, attend
the clinics for mothercraft and relaxation and the
attendances numbered 2,675, compared with 2,186
attendances made last year. Only 52 mothers took
advantage of our facilities for post-natal
examinations. The practice of undertaking
ante-natal care in the middle months of pregnancy
has continued for patients booked at hospitals but
referred back to us after their initial visit to
hospital.
Child Welfare Clinics
During the year 1,429 sessions were held at which
8,690 children made a total of 51,402 attendances,
representing a fall of 5,178 attendances. General
practitioners are increasingly undertaking child
care and management and there seems to be a
steady increase in mothers of young children going
out to work. Both these factors no doubt have
contributed to the decrease in clinic attendances.
Welfare Foods
National welfare foods and approved proprietary
preparations are stocked at child welfare centres
for sale, or if the need is proved, for free issue.
During the year £11,587 was received for the sale
of proprietary preparations.
The quantities of national welfare foods issued
were:—
National dried milk (tins) 10,518
Orange juice (bottles) 56,194
Vitamin tablets (packets) 3,173
Cod liver oil (bottles) 2,779
Notification of Congenital Defects Apparent
at Birth
Since 1st January 1964 it has been a statutory
requirement that all congenital malformations
apparent at birth be notified to the Medical Officer
of Health at the same time as the notification of
birth. The names of children so notified are
included in the department's observation register
as children at risk, and particulars are also sent
each month to the Ministry of Health.
The following is a list of defects notified
during 1967:—
Central Nervous System
Anencephalus 1
Encephalocele 1
Hydrocephalus 1
Spina bifida 3
Eye, ear
Cataract 1
Corneal opacity 1
Defects of eye NOS 1
Accessory auricle 2
Defects of ear NOS 1
Alimentary system
Cleft lip 1
Cleft palate 1
Hiatus hernia 1
Tracheo-oesophageal fistula, oesophageal
atresia and stenosis 1
Defects of alimentary system NOS 1
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