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SECTION 22: CAKE OP MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
Expectant and Nursing Mothers.
Facilities provided for Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Care. Ante-Natal and Post-Natal
Clinics are held on the premises of five of the six Municipal Centres, as well as at the
South West Ham Health Society's Voluntary Clinic at Avenons Road, giving a total number
of 10 sessions weekly. The Council's Assistant Medical Officers for Maternity and Child
Welfare, who all hold higher qualifications in obstetrics are responsible for medical
examinations at these clinics. In addition to those women booked for home confinement,
a large proportion of those referred for booking at the Forest Gate Hospital are also
seen at the Council's Centres. Their ante-natal care is, at the Consultant's discretion,
divided between the Hospital and the Local Authority Clinic. Conferences have recently
been held at officer level, with the object of reviewing the existing arrangements and
the liaison between all three Maternity Units in the Borough and the Local Authority
Services. By the end of the year sufficient progress had been made to contemplate the
submission of joint recommendations to the Local Health Authority and the Hospital Management
Committee.
The ante-natal and post-natal care of women who have booked a domiciliary midwife
from the Service provided, on an agency basis by the Plaistow Maternity Hospital, is at
present undertaken on the Hospital's premises, and the medical examinations are conducted
by the Hospital's medical officers.
Arrangements are made for those women who book a domiciliary midwife from the
Essex County Council or Silvertown and North Woolwich District Nursing Association to
attend the Municipal Clinics for their medical examinations.
At the Municipal Centres ante-natal and post-natal sessions are combined, and
examinations are carried out by appointment.
At these various ante-natal clinics during the year 1952, 1,859 expectant mothers
have registered and made a total of 9,748 attendances. Four hundred and ninety mothers
attended for examination during the post-natal period and made a total of 581 attendances.
In addition, 14 of the mothers attended for post-natal examination at the Lady Rayleigh
Nurses Training Home and made a total of 16 attendances.
In 1949, with a total of 960 domiciliary confinements, 216 mothers attended for
post-natal examination, approximately 25 per cent. This rose to 45 per cent, in 1950 and
to 70 per cent, in 1951- In 1952, with a total of 607 domiciliary confinements, this
figure is 83 per cent.
It is estimated that about 11 per cent, of the mothers having their confinements
at home booked maternity medical services and they may be assumed to have been examined
by general practitioners. It would appear, therefore, that there remains some 6 per cent,
who have not availed themselves of the opportunity for a full medical and gynaecological
examination a few weeks after a confinement at home.
Specialist Clinics.
No Specialist Obstetric Clinics are held on Local Authority premises. Patients
requiring specialist advice are usually referred to a Consultant at one of the Maternity
Units within the Authority's area and reasonably accessible for this purpose.
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