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appreciated by expectant mothers, though it is an aspect
difficult to satisfy without team-work in clinic premises.
With the advent of health centres it is envisaged that family
doctors will be more closely associated with all aspects of
ante-natal care and that hospital doctors will also come out
to clinics to see ante-natal patients, as is already happening
in the Brentford Health Centre.
One hundred and forty seven medical officer sessions
were held this year, the attendances at which totalled 476.
One hundred and nineteen sessions with a midwife only in
attendance were held, the attendances at which totalled
524.
Attendances at the mothercraft and relaxation clinics
numbered 2,428: 44 less than last year. Only 32 mothers
took advantage of the council's facilities for post-natal
examinations.
Many patients booked for confinement in hospital are
supervised at the clinics during the middle months of
pregnancy and return to the direct care of the hospital
obstetricians as they approach term.
Child Health Clinics
During the year, 1,486 sessions were held at which 7,862
children made a total of 42,211 attendances representing a
decrease of 1,421 attendances compared with 1971. The
provision of child health clinics with attendant dental and
immunisation clinics form a significant part of a local
authority's services but it is hoped that interested family
doctors in association with the health visitor will take on
more of this work in health centres as part of family
medical care providing routine supervision of children
under 5 years in their practices.
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 £14,778 was received for the sale of
proprietary preparations.
The quantities of national welfare foods issued were:
the Department of Health and Social Security. The
following is a list of defects notified during 1972.
Central Nervous System
Anencephalus 7
Spina bifida 3
Hydrocephalus 2
Unspecified malformations of brain, spinal
cord and nervous system 1
Eye and ear
Cataract and corneal opacity 1
Other specified malformations of eye 10
Unspecified malformations of eye 1
Accessory auricle 2
Other specified malformations of ear 1
Unspecified malformations of ear 1
Alimentary System
Cleft Palate 4
Malformations of tongue 1
Tracheo-oesophageal fistula, oesophageal
atresia and stenosis 1
Rectal and anal atresia and stenosis 1
Heart and Circulatory System
Specified malformations of heart and
circulatory system 6
Unspecified malformations of heart and
circulatory system 2
Respiratory System
Malformations of nose 1
Other specified malformations of
respiratory system 2
Unspecified malformations of respiratory
system 7
National dried milk (packets) 1989
Orange juice (bottles) 8670
Vitamin tablets (packets) 2223
Vitamin drops (bottles) 6838
Welfare orange juice ceased to be supplied as a welfare
food after 31st December 1971 and residual stocks were
sold during the first quarter of 1972.
There has been a slight increase in the sales of Vitamin
tablets since the withdrawal of orange juice but a steady
decrease in the sales of Vitamin drops.
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
Urino-genital System
Hypospadias, epispadias 4
Undescended testicle 6
Hydrocele 1
Malformations of female vagina and external
genitalia 1
Other specified malformations of urino-genital
organs (includes pseudohermaphroditism) 1
Limbs
Polydactyly 1
Syndactyly 2
Reduction deformity hand or arm 1
Talipes 6
Congenital dislocation of hip 3
Other specified malformations of upper limb or
shoulder 3
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