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72
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
(SECTION 22)
Ante-natal Clinics
There are six ante-natal clinics in Hornsey and three in Tottenham. Each
clinic holds from one to three sessions a week, and midwives also hold
sessions at which they continue supervision of their "booked" cases.
The average attendance at an ante natal clinic is 15.4 per session. This
gives doctor and patient time to discuss the patient's problems.
Expectant mothers reach the clinic in three different ways. Firstly,
they may attend the clinic of their own accord. Secondly, they may be
referred to the clinic by their general practitioner. Thirdly, they may be
sent by the general practitioner to the hospital first in order to book a bed;
the hospital then refers them back to the clinic for routine supervision.
Those patients who attend the clinic before making arrangements for
confinement are advised on health or social grounds either to book a midwife
for home confinement, or a bed at the Alexandra Maternity Home or a hospital.
In the case of patients who are booked at a hospital, a record card is
made out at the hospital giving all relevant details, and this is sent to the
clinic. At the 32nd week of pregnancy the patient is seen again at the
hospital and returns to the clinic with a report on her condition. In this
way, liaison is maintained between clinic and hospital which makes for greater
security and the confidence of the patient is helped by the knowledge that
continued care and interest is being taken.
Patients who are to be confined at home (558 births out of 2,996 or 18.6%
during 19 54) sometimes attend their medical practitioner only, sometimes the
clinic, or both. It is always possible and easy to get another opinion in
these cases at the hospital, and if considered advisable, the mother admitted
to hospital.
The reasons why women prefer to be confined in hospital are numerous and
varied. Mainly the mother feels safer, and the husband feels happier with
his wife in hospital. Also as a rule the mother gets more rest than at home,
and it is still cheaper for the mother to have her baby in hospital.
The following table shows that the average attendance per session was
maintained at the 1953 level. This had been achieved by a reduction of one
session a week at the Hornsey Town Hall clinic towards the end of 1953.