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Blood tests are carried out on all patients attending these clinics and include a
Kahn, Rhesus factor, blood group and Haemoglobin estimation in every case. Any tendency to
anaemia is kept under careful observation, (which includes further blood examinations)
because anaemia in the expectant mother may have serious implications for both mother and
baby. Mothers are encouraged to take iron regularly during pregnancy, particularly during
the last three months.
Chest X-rays. Provision for chest x-ray for all expectant mothers, which was started
in 1953, has continued throughout the year. Every expectant mother attending the ante-natal
clinic, if she has not already had a chest x-ray during her present pregnancy, is offered an
appointment at a special session of the Mass Radiography Unit which is held at one of the
Welfare Centres. Unfortunately, under present circumstances, the sessions can only be held
infrequently, which probably accounts for the rather low attendances. Mothers booked for
confinement at Plaistow Maternity Hospital and those attending the Essex County Council
Leyton Health Area Clinics are also invited to these x-ray sessions.
Unmarried Mothers. Close and friendly co-operation has been maintained with the
Moral Welfare Worker employed by the Chelmsford Diocesan Moral Welfare Association, and with
the Committee and the Superintendent of St. Agatha's Hostel which is situated in the borough.
Miss McCleod, who had worked in the dual capacity of Superintendent of the hostel and Moral
Welfare Worker for a very extensive area, which included West Ham, retired during the year
after many years devoted service, and we would like to place on record our appreciation of her
work. No permanent Superintendent has yet been appointed to St. Agatha's but when she takes up
her duties they will be concerned entirely with the hostel.
The social work for unmarried mothers and their babies is now undertaken by Miss
Treacher, on behalf of the Moral Welfare Association. Her office is in Ilford, but she is
available to interview in West Ham those mothers who find this more convenient. We are
pleased to welcome Miss Treacher as a colleague. The close integration of her work with
the work of the Health Department, which she has so successfully achieved, will be very
helpful to the mothers concerned.
CHILD WELFARE.
Premature Infants. Prematurity remains our greatest cause of infant death and the
prevention of premature births and of the death of premature infants are two of our most
pressing problems. They are problems which are not oonfined to this area, but are national
and indeed world wide.
The number of premature births was the same as last year, and the proportion remains
at 7.3% of total births.
Out of a total of 63 deaths of infants under 1 year, 25 (39%) occurred in premature
infants who died within the first month of life. As analysis of causes of these 25 deaths
is as follows:-
Prematurity 17
Prematurity associated with pneumonia 2
Prematurity associated with Cerebral
Haemorrhage and Exomphalos 1
Prematurity associated with Meconium
Ileus 1
Prematurity associated with Atelectasis 3
Prematurity associated with respiratory
failure 1 25
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