View report page

13
The trend for the year under review seems to have been for mothers to keep their babies, especially
in the cases where they spent the 6 week post-natal period in a mother and baby home. However, some
mothers wanted their babies fostered directly from hospital pending adoption, and these arrangements were
made.
BIRTH CONTROL
The increasing demand for birth control advice has fully justified the Council's decision to maintain
and expand a separate Borough service. The number of sessions was increased and new projects begun.
A comprehensive list of clinic sessions is given below, but mention must be made of the session commenced
at Kingsbury Maternity Hospital. This was opened in April, in conjunction with the hospital post-natal
clinic; all women attending for post-natal examination being offered the service at a time most appropriate
for contraceptive advice.
Arrangements were put in hand to set up a similar service at Central Middlesex Hospital, and preliminary
discussions commenced on the provision of a domiciliary birth control service. Extra sessions in
the Borough clinics were opened at Chalkhill Health Centre and Kilburn Square Clinic. A session at Neasden
was arranged and will open when staff are available.
All patients are given free consultations and a modified system of payment for supplies is practised.
Free supplies are prescribed for patients in receipt of Social Security Benefit.
The Family Planning Association have free use of Borough Clinics for 5 sessions per week and a
grant of £300 was made to the North-West London Branch in 1970/71. A few urgent cases and follow-up
patients have had fees paid by the Council.

INCIDENCE OF CONGENITAL MALFORMATION
In accordance with the requirements of the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and
Social Security, 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
9 and 10.
MIDWIFERY SERVICE
(Table 11)
There are 19 full-time midwives on the establishment. Thirteen full-time and 1 part-time midwife
were employed, the vacancies are not being filled for the time being because of the decrease in the number
of domiciliary confinements.
The scheme for attaching midwives to general practitioners' surgeries continues and 5 midwives are
now attached. The scheme continues to work satisfactorily.
Midwives who are not attached hold their own ante-natal sessions, observing close liaison with general
practitioners, obstetricians and hospital services. Ante-natal care includes classes in preparation for childbirth
and use of analgesics, i.e. gas and air, trilene, entinox and pethilorfan.
Sterilised maternity pack outfits are provided for all mothers who have home confinements and a
modified outfit is provided for early discharges from hospital.
The Maternity Medical Services Co-Operation Card is used between midwives, general practitioners
and hospital services. Its purpose is to ensure that each member of the team is aware of the attention given
to patients by other members.