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48
labour commences or have to arrange to have the confinement at home which may bring
them into conflict with their landlord and reluctant relatives. This is a frequent
source of worry and an improvement in the situation shows no sign of appearing.
Another hindrance to helping mothers to a calm readiness for labour is the
language difficulty. There appears to be an increase in foreign-speaking patients at
all the centres.
It is becoming a practice throughout the country to use an ante-natal record card
which is carried by the patient herself - called the co-operation card - to facilitate
exchange of information between hospitals, general practitioners, clinics and midwives.
This has been introduced in a limited way in the Area and if it is successful it is hoped
to extend it to cover all patients.
During the year an improvement has been made in the collection and despatch of
blood samples. Plastic disposable syringes and bottles are now used. The purpose
of the change has been to improve the service for early diagnosis of anaemia during
pregnancy.
The percentage of expectant mothers making at least one attendance at one of the
local authority ante-natal clinics was 61.2% in 1961 compared with 61.3% the previous
year.