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61
A- NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
ACT, 19 4 6
(PART III SERVICES)
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
(SECTION 22)
Tottenham and Hornsey provide a comprehensive health service
for expectant and nursing mothers and their children from birth until
they enter school.
Care of the Expectant Mother.
The aim of this service is to promote the mental and physical
well being of the mother from early pregnancy until the confinement
The team of doctor, health visitor and midwife works together in
all the ante-natal clinics to this end and co-operates with the
general practitioner, the obstetric consultants of the Regional
Hospital Boards and the hospital almoners.
Through the local health service, arrangements for domiciliary
confinement or the reservation of a hospital bed on medical
or social grounds are made for each expectant mother, whilst antenatal
examinations are carried out in one of the local clinics.
This saves unnecessary travelling, frees the mother from anxiety
and conserves her energy. The system of card reports on ante-nataL
care and confinement which has operated successfully with the North
Middlesex Hospital was at our request extended to the Clapton
Mothers' Hospital during 1951. The services of a home help, if
required, are available for all domiciliary confinements and, where
necessary, day nursery accommodation can be provided as a temporary
measure for pre school children during the mother's confinement
and puerperium.
In the ante-natal clinic each expectant mother has a specimen
of blood taken for examination by the National Laboratory Service
and appointments can be made for X-ray examination and special
treatments including dental care.
Ambulance conveyance from home to the clinic is arranged when
it is required.