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are visited by the Health Visitors at their homes and others are
sent to Hospital when further advice or treatment is required.
Even cases that pursue a normal course often derive benefit
from their visits to the Clinics inasmuch that one can relieve
them of discomfort and minor ailments common during
pregnancy.
One may suggest two ways of improving the efficiency of
these Clinics:—
(1) Keeping the technical officers of the Clinics well posted
with any new procedure that may increase the efficiency of the
work. This may be brought about by the Medical Officers
visiting at intervals some of the Ante-Natal Clinics conducted
by specialist obstetricians and by the nurses attending
" refresher courses " where ante-natal work is dealt with.
(2) Ensuring that a greater number of expectant mothers
attend the Clinics. In order to achieve this object it is
proposed (a) to intensify the propaganda already carried on by
the nurses during their health visiting, (b) to take steps to bring
about a close co-operation with midwives practising in the
area, (c) to endeavour to obtain the practical sympathy of
Medical Practitioners with our work, and (d) to advertise the
existence and position of these Clinics and the times at which
sessions are held.
(b) and (c) can be promoted in each case by the issue of
a circular letter and the holding of a conference.
N.B.—In asking the Midwives for their close co-operation
attention is called to the suggestion by the Minister of Health
in his letter mentioned above. He suggested that " with a
view to encouraging a greater degree of co-operation by
Midwives with the work of the Ante-Natal Clinics, the Council
might consider the adoption of arrangements, similar to those
made by other Authorities, for the payment of compensation
to Midwives whose patients attend an Ante-Natal Clinic on
their advice and are subsequently admitted to a Hospital or
Home for confinement on the recommendation of the Medical
Officer of the Clinic." This is of real importance if we are to
work satisfactorily with the Midwives, for even with our
present limited co-operation it has happened on more than one
occasion that we have had to advise that the patient sent by
the Midwife should be admitted to Hospital for the confinement.
we have thus deprived the Midwife of her legitimate fees.