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1
MATERNITY HOSPITAL SERVICES
Arrangements for Maternity Cases have been made, as in previous
years, in respect of patients able to pay the whole or part
of the fee, with the Mothers' Hospital, Clapton, and the North
Middlesex County Hospital. 847 Confinements of Tottenham residents
took place in these institutions compared with 990 in the
previous year.
The work of this department continued normally until September
1939 when the exigencies of the war imposed additional duties
on the Health Visitors. Many of them accompanied expectant
mothers to reception areas while for a short time, several of them
undertook duties in connection with Civil Defence. Every effort
was made to ensure the continuity of the service and by the middle
of October the Department was again working normally. During the
year, 41,909 home visits were made, compared with 40,300 in 1938.
During 1939, the work of the Maternity Clinics has been maintained
and in spite of the interference made at the outbreak of
war by the evacuation of mothers and children the number of new
patients seen and the average at each clinic has been very little
varied.
Three sessions have been held per week at each centre and, at
the outbreak of war, the clinic at ''The Chestnuts" was transferred
to 227 West Green Road.
At "The Chestnuts" Clinic, 140 sessions have been held,
2,200 attendances made and these include 496 new cases, 178 postnatal
visits. At Lordship Lane, 151 sessions have been held,
2,100 attendances made of which 612 were new cases and 203 postnatal
visits. The increase in post.natal examinations has been
encouraging.
The fullest use has been made of the many Welfare Services
and this is especially true of the dental services. During the
year, 283 expectant mothers and 71 nursing mothers have received
treatment and 81 dentures have been supplied. Great appreciation
has been expressed for this service by the mothers.
The closest co.operation has been maintained between the
Clinics and the two Maternity Hospitals . the North Middlesex and
the Mothers' Hospital.
The Infant and Child Welfare Clinics, except for the short
interruption of services at the outbreak of war, have continued
to function satisfactorily during the past 12 months. The attendances
since last September have been unexpectedly good and a high
percentage of first infants have been supervised.
The temporary premises in West Green Road, used in place of
"The Chestnuts'1, St. Ann's Foad, which was requisitioned for Civil
Defence purposes, have proved generally inadequate, and application
has been made for the early return of "The Chestnuts" for its
peace.time functions.
Dental patients, both mothers and children, have steadily
increased in number to a very satisfactory extent.
The amount of rickets detected among the children attending
the Clinics has been practically negligible.
The number of infants examined by the Medical Officer during
the year was 5885 as compared with 6887 during 1938. New cases
numbered 1503 against 1630 in 1938. It will be seen that in spite
of the evacuation of mothers and children under five, attendances
at Clinics have been maintained at very near their previous level.
THE HEALTH VISITORS' DEPARTMENT
ANTE.NATAL CLINICS
INFANT WELFARE CENTRES
P.T.O