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NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT, l946
SECTION 22: CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
EXPECTANT AND NURSING MOTHERS
Facilities provided for Ante-Natal and Post-Natal care were continued with ten
weekly combined ante-natal and post-natal sessions at the Municipal Centres and one at
the South West Ham Health Society's Clinic. Mothers attend by appointment and in each
case the medical examinations are undertaken by one of the Council's medical officers.
The municipal midwives examine their patients at Maternity and Child Welfare
Centres at the same session as the ante-natal clinics conducted by the medical officers.
When the patient has booked a doctor for her confinement the midwife endeavours to arrange
for joint examination by doctor and midwife on at least two occasions either at the
municipal clinic, or at the doctor's surgery. The doctor giving maternity medical service
is also encouraged to refer his patients to the municipal clinic for blood tests, chest
x-ray, training in relaxation, and for the teaching of mothercraft.
Arrangements for women who book domiciliary midwives from the Essex County Council
Service, based on the Lady Raylelgh Training Home in Leytonstone, include attendance at
the municipal clinics for some of their medical examinations.
Patients requiring specialist advice are usually referred to the consultant at
one of the maternity units in the Borough, while those wishing or requiring a hospital
bed are referred to the hospital of their choice. One thousand three hundred and seventy
seven expectant mothers have made a total of 6,308 attendances at the ante-natal clinics,
a small decrease as compared with last year. Two hundred and eleven attended for examination
during the post-natal period and made a total of 220 attendances. This is 68% of
the total of 310 domiciliary confinements, as compared with 67% last year, but as it does
not include post-natal examinations undertaken by general practitioners, the record is not
complete.
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).
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 has continued
throughout the year. Each mother attending the ante-natal clinic is offered an appointment
at a special session of the Mass Radiography Unit which is held at one of the Welfare
Centres.
Unmarried mothers. In West Ham most of the special social work involved in helping
unmarried mothers and their children, including the finding of suitable accommodation, is
undertaken by the Chelmsford Diocesan Moral Welfare Association. Miss Treacher, the
trained social worker who covers the West Ham area, has an office in Ilford, but may be
consulted at St. Agatha's Hostel, Carnarvon Road, on Tuesdays from 4.30 p.m. Any
unmarried mother may be referred to Miss Treacher for help and counselling. There is
free exchange of information and excellent co-operation between Miss Treacher and the
local health authority offices, channelled mainly through the Superintendent Health Visitor.
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