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NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT, 1946
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 until
July 26th, one at the South West Ham Health Society's Clinic at Avenons Road. Mothers
attend by appointment and in each case the medical examinations are undertaken by one of
the Council's medical officers.
The minicipal midwives have continued to 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 invited 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 booked domiciliary midwives from the Essex County
Council Service, based on the Lady Rayleigh 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 and seventy-five
expectant mothers have made a total of 5,254 attendances at the ante-natal clinics, a
small decrease as compared with last year. They include some women referred from the
hospitals for their intermediate examinations, and many who are subsequently referred to
hospital for confinement. Two hundred and seven attended for examination during the
post-natal period and made a total of 270 attendances. This is 78% of the 347
domiciliary confinements, as compared with 68% last year, but as it does not include
post-natal examinations undertaken by general practitioners, the total is not known.
It would be very much in the interest of the mothers and their families if each one
had a thorough medical overhaul of her general health and of her pelvic organs within a
few weeks of delivery, the last being repeated when indicated. 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, but the arrangements were changed in September, because
of the Interim Report of the Ministry Committee on "Radiological Hazards to Patients".
The Committee recommended that chest examinations of pregnant women should not be
carried out with mass miniature techniques, but by full sized films. Consequently,
instead of being referred to a special session of the Mass Radiography Unit, each
mother is offered an evening appointment at the Chest Clinic, between the fourth and
sixth month of pregnancy. The appointment is for a separate session at which the
mother will not meet tuberculous patients or their contacts.
Unmarried Mothers. In West Ham most of the special social work involved in
helping unmarried mothers and their children, including the finding of suitable
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