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Attendances for Dental Treatment.
(1) Expectant and Nursing Mothers.
Number of new cases treated 580
Total attendances 2730
Total attendances (a) for extraction 1045
(b) for fillings 120
(c) for special treatment 192
Number of dentures supplied 434
(2) Children under School Age.
Number of new cases treated 657
Total attendances 2351
Total attendances (a) for extraction 747
(b) for fillings 958
Home Helps.
There has been no alteration in the Home Help Scheme,
which is of great value to the mothers who have received help
from the Council in this way. The Home Help — a woman
usually chosen by the patient subject to approval as a suitable
person by the Health Visitor—attends at the home from the date
of confinement and for fourteen days thereafter. As the duties
of such a woman are purely domestic, she may be employed
whether the patient is confined in hospital or at her own home.
It is an infringement of the Home Help rules if the woman undertakes
any of the duties, at the confinement, of a trained nurse.
During 1936 there were 843 applications lor this help under
the Council's Scheme; in 643 cases this help was granted.
The Home Help is supervised by the Health Visitor of the
district, and subject to a satisfactory report of her work being
received from the Health Visitor, payment is granted to the
Home Help for the duties performed.
The assistance which this scheme gives to the poorer working
class mothers is of immense benefit: it affords the patient
herself an opportunity of longer convalescence : it ensures her
peace of mind, for she realises that her children are not neglected
and that the household duties are carried on as if she herself were
not for the time being laid aside.
Supervision of Midwives practising in the Borough.
The Supervisor of Midwives in the Borough is the Senior
Assistant Medical Officer for Maternity and Child Welfare (Dr.
Helen Campbell).
During 1936, 88 midwives notified their intention to practise
midwifery; at the end of the year it was found that 54 midwives
only were actually practising in the Borough. This apparent discrepancy
is accounted for by the fact that a certain number of pupil
midwives practise for a short period from their training schools in
the Borough after passing the Central Midwives' Board examination.
The majority of these midwives practise under the aegis of
one of the several training schools or nursing associations in the
neighbourhood.
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