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Assistance given at Clinics In General Practitioner's own premises.
No arrangements have been made and there would not seem to be a need for these. In
1952 it would appear that only 11 per cent, of women confined in their own homes booked
Maternity Medical Services, and no general practitioner or general practitioner obstetrician
gave full maternity medical services to more than 15 patients during the year.
Blood Testing Arrangements.
Blood tests are carried out on all patients attending the Municipal Ante-Natal
Clinics. General practitioners may, and sometimes do, refer their patients for blood tests.
The following investigations are carried out in every cases-
Kahn
Rhesus factor
Blood group
% Haemoglobin
The tests are carried out at the Forest Gate Hospital Laboratory. When confirmation of a
Rhesus negative report or an estimation of agglutinins is required, samples of blood are
sent to the Blood Transfusion Centre at Barnet.
Unmarried Mothers.
Whenever possible unmarried mothers are encouraged to use the facilities provided for
all mothers and babies. Those unmarried mothers who have special needs are referred to the
Moral Welfare Worker employed by the Chelmsford Diocesan Moral Welfare Association. This
Welfare Worker, who works in close co-operation with the appropriate officers in the Health
Department, is resident in the Borough at the St.Agatha's Hostel, 73, Carnarvon Road, E.15.
Arrangements are made for West Ham mothers, who are in need of care and accommodation to be
admitted to St.Agatha's or another hostel, the Local Health Authority contributing a sum
necessary to cover the maintenance charge whenever the mother is unable to maintain herself
or the whole sum is not available from other sources.
During the year 7 West Ham mothers, who were in need of care and accommodation for
varying periods, were admitted to St.Agatha's. Of these, 4 were admitted before and 3
after the birth of the baby. Six West Ham unmarried mothers were admitted to hostels
outside the area.
St.Agatha's Hostel was closed for structural alterations from 29th March, 1952 to
l^th September, 1952.
A recent communication from the Home Office Indicated that St.Agatha's Home was no
longer subject to registration under Section 29 of the Children Act. Informal discussions
are proceeding with the officers of the Chelmsford Diocesan Moral Welfare Association, with
a view to securing even closer liaison between St.Agatha's Home and the Local Health
Authority under Section 22 of the National Health Service Act.
Mothercraft Training.
Expectant mothers are invited to attend courses (of from 6-8 sessions) held from
time to time at one of the Municipal Centres in the north of the Borough. A Senior Health
Visitor, who is also a Physiotherapist, is in charge of these sessions, which combine the
teaching of relaxation with Health Education and Parentcraft. The subjects have included
simple explanation of the physiology of pregnancy and labour; hygiene in pregnancy with
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