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NATIONAL HEAUH SERVICE ACT, I9I6.
SECTION 22: CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
Expectant and Nursing Mothers.
Facilities provided for Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Care, continued on the same basis
as during the preceding year, with nine sessions weekly at the Municipal Centres, and one on
the premises of the South West Ham Health Society's Clinic at Avenons Road. The Council's
Assistant Medical Officers have been responsible for the medical care of the midwlves'
patients attending these centres. The Ante-Natal and Post-Natal sessions are combined, and
all examinations are by appointment. A number of patients who have been referred to Forest
Gate Hospital for booking, have been referred back to the centres for intermediate care.
Blood tests are carried out on all patients attending these Ante-Natal clinics. Some
General Practitioners make use of the facilities offered, and refer their patients to the
clinics for blood tests. The tests are carried out at Forest Gate Hospital laboratory, and
Include Kahn, Rhesus factor, Blood group and % Haemoglobin In every case.
Patients requiring specialist's advice are usually referred to a consultant at one of
the three Maternity Units in the Borough.
The ante-natal and post-natal care of women who have booked a domiciliary midwife from
the serrice 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 these various ante-natal clinics during the year 1953, 1,870 expectant mothers have
registered and made a total of 10,730 attendances, which is an Increase on the number attending
In the previous year. Four hundred and sixty-seven mothers attended for examination during
the post-natal period and made a total of 539 attendances. This is a slight decrease in the
numbers attending during the previous year, and is 79% of the total of 594 domiciliary
confinements.
Unmarried Mothers. Close co-operation has been maintained with the Moral Welfare
Worker employed by the Chelmsford Diocesan Moral Welfare Association, who is resident in
the Borough at St.Agatha's Hostel. Mothers who need special care and accommodation are
admitted to St.Agatha's or another hostel, the Local Authority contributing to their
maintenance when necessary. During the year six West Ham mothers, who were in need of
care and accommodation for varying periods, were admitted to St.Agatha's. Of these, four
were admitted before and two after the birth of the baby. Three West Ham unmarried mothers
were admitted to hostels outside the area.
Mothercraft Training. Sessions in which the teaching of relaxation is conbined with
health education and parentcraft, held at one of the Municipal Centres in the north of the
Borough, have been continued throughout the year, and are much appreciated. It has not yet
been possible to offer similar sessions in the south of the Borough, but it is hoped to do
so during the coming year in connection with the proposed reorganisation of the Domiciliary
Midwifery Service.
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