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or medical abnormality was less than in any of the previous three years.
Although 138 cases were sent from the clinics, it should be noted that
670 Carshalton mothers were confined in hospitals and nursing homes
(luring the year. The demand for hospital accommodation has risen
year by year and still exceeds the beds available.
Unmarried Mothers and Illegitimate Children.
For reasons uiainlv due to the war, the number of illegitimate
children is now about double what it was in pre-war years. It is to
be expected for obvious reasons, that mortality among these unwanted
children should be much higher than for legitimate infants, and it
speaks well for the local arrangements for their supervision and care
that there has been no death of an illegitimate child under one year
in the last two years, although 02 such births were registered.
The Council subscribes to the funds of the Sutton and District
Girls' Aid Association with which the Council's child welfare service
works in close co-operation. In addition, the Council invariably meets
the uncovered balance of cost of accommodation in special homes for
the unmarried mothers of the district. The arrangements include:—
Admission to the local or an affiliated shelter home before and
after the confinement, which is conducted in a convenient
hospital.
Advice on such matters as affiliation and marriage, negotiation
with the putative father.
Clinic supervision, obtaining baby clothes, help with adoption
and many other relevant matters.
The Association's moral welfare worker has supplied the following
information relating to this district in 1946:—
Unmarried mothers assisted 15
Illegitimate babies 13
of these 4 are now with their mothers.
2 are in homes.
7 are adopted or being adopted.
The Council accepted responsibility for the cost of maintenance
in special homes of three unmarried mothers and one illegitimate baby
for a total of 33.4/7ths patient weeks.
Consultant Service.
No request was received for the services of a consultant which
are available for the complications of pregnancy and labour.
Emergency Maternity Unit.
The mobile unit for maternity cases based on the War Memorial
Hospital was not called upon during the year.
Maternity Outfits.
Sterilised outfits for use during confinement are supplied at cost
price or less than cost price in necessitous cases. Thirteen were issued
during the year at cost price.
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