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11
Close liaison with the Welfare Division was maintained in connection with the admission to homes
of the homeless evicted women, either pregnant or with a young infant.
In addition to the Council's own home, use was also made of the homes run by other London
Boroughs, who, indeed, made use of the vacancies that were available in Belle Vue Mother and Baby Home.
Apart from the actual placements in mother and baby homes a large number of mothers were
interviewed and necessary arrangements made.
The staffing of the Council's home presents some problems, since it is necessary to appoint reliable
people even as attendants, who will be able to supervise the girls in their household tasks, and cover general
supervision for short periods.
During 1966, the social side of caring for the mothers and babies were carried out by one full-time
Medical Social Worker, whose services are shared with the London Borough of Harrow, at an appropriate
financiail adjustment.
FAMILY PLANNING
The Council runs a Family Planning Clinic every Monday morning at London Road Clinic. Patients
eligible are those referred on medical grounds by general practitioners or Assistant Medical Officers. The
Family Planning Association continued to use Pound Lane and Stag Lane Clinics one evening per week, free
of charge, for holding sessions. In addition, the Council agreed to the Association using One Tree Hill
Clinic one morning a week from September, 1966 for a further session, and at the end of the year negotiations
were in progress for the use of Neasden Clinic.
The Council made a grant of £100 to the Association in 1966, and provision for a similar grant in
1967 has been made in the Annual Estimates for 1967/68.
INCIDENCE OF CONGENITAL MALFORMATION
In accordance with the requirements of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, information
is supplied to the Registrar General concerning congenital defects apparent at birth.
A summary of notifications received and an analysis of malformations notified are shown in Tables
10 and 11.
MIDWIFERY SERVICE
(Table 12)
There are 16 full-time and 4 part-time midwives on the Establishment but there was a shortage of
staff for several months owing to the resignation of 5 full-time Officers and difficulty in recruitment due to
accommodation problems.
Midwives continue to hold their own ante-natal sessions, but close liaison with general practitioners,
obstetricians and hospitals is observed. Ante-natal care includes instruction in the use of analgesics, i.e.
Trilene and Entonox. Sterilised maternity packs are available to mothers who have their babies at home.
48-Hour Discharge Scheme
The Council operates a planned 48-hour Discharge Scheme in conjunction with the Central Middlesex,
Kingsbury Maternity and Paddington General Hospitals. The 4 part-time midwives on the Establishment
care for these cases (2 work in the Willesden area and 2 in the Wembley area). A modified maternity
outfit is available for them. There was a decline in domiciliary bookings due to the number of general practitioners
who requested 48-hour admission to hospitals for their patients. If this trend continues it may have
an adverse effect on the number of pupil midwives who can be accepted for Part II training.
Training
A total of 8 pupil midwives were accepted from Paddington General, Bushey Maternity, and Hillingdon
Maternity Hospitals on four occasions during the year for three months training. The Central Middlesex
Hospital has now been approved by the Ministry of Health as a Part II Training School for pupils and two
of their pupils will be accepted for training each three monthly periods commencing September, 1967 providing
sufficient home confinements are booked to cover the statutory requirements of the Central
Midwives Board.
HEALTH VISITING
Under the National Health Service Act, 1946, the Council makes provision for Health Visitors to
visit persons in their own homes for the purpose of giving advice on the care of expectant and nursing
mothers; young children; persons suffering from illness; and the aged. The Health Visitors all hold the
joint appointment of School Nurse as part of the integration of the School Medical and Health Services.
In addition to attendances at all clinic sessions, her other duties include health education to groups in
health clinics, schools, and to voluntary associations.