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MATERNITY CHILD WELFFARE DEPARTMENT.
ANNUAL, REPORT 1940.
MATERNITY HOSPITAL SERVICES
Arrangements for maternity cases; have been made, as in
previous years, in respect of patient, able to pay the whole
or part of the fee, with the Mothers Hospital, Clapton, and the
North Middlesex County Hospital., 355 confinements of Tottenham
residents took place in these institutions compared with 523 in
the previous year.
THE HEALTH VISITORS DEPARTMENT
At the beginning of 1940, the department had fully adjusted
itself to war conditions and was once again working normally.
During the year, 33,975 borne visits were made compared with 41,909
during 1939. As in the previous year, it was found that the war
imposed additional duties on this service. Health Visitors
continued to accompany expectant mothers to reception areas. In
June, 1940, following the invasion of the Low Countries, there,
was a large influx of Belgian and French refugees into this
country. Many of these were found to be in a verminous condition
and the Jewish Hospital in Tottenham was made the central cleansing
station for the whole of Middlesex. All available nursing
assistance was employed and the Health Visitors, working in a
rota, rendered useful service.
After air raids, during which Tottenham received heavy
damage, Health Visitors attended bombed families, either in their
homes, or at Rest Centres and bathed and fed the children. At
the Harringay Arena, then the main Rest Centre, Health Visitors
paid daily visits to attend sick children and adults.
Further sup rvision of young children was also made necessary
by the increase in scabies and to a lesser extent in lice
infestation, due to a relaxation of peace time standards of cleanliness
and the crowding together of persons in air-raid shelters.
The emergency shelters for lost children which had been
provided were not used as children invariably found their way to
Rest Centres.
ANTENATAL AND POST-NATAL CLINICS.
During 1940 , the work of these clinics showed little variation
in spite of day and night raids find the. consequent evacuation of
an increased number of expectant mothers. Two sessions were held
weekly at each of the three clinics. At the Chestnuts. Clinic,
happily restored to its normal use during the year, 705 patients
were attended of whom 124 were post-natal; at Lordship Lane Clinic,
447 of whom 122 were post-natal and at Park Lane 275 of whom 51
were post-natal. The slight falling off in attendances at the
Post-Natal clinics was probably due to the continued residence in
the country of patients evacuated for their confinements. As in
previous years, the closest co -operation was maintained with, the
Maternity Hospitals in the district.
The fullest use has been made of the many welfare services
and this is especially true of the dental services. During the
year 458 expectant, mothers and 103 nursing mothers have received
treatment and 160 dentures have been supplied. Great appreciation
has been expressed of this service by the mothers.
(cond.)