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26
system will ensure that a mother has a reasonable period with
the doctor in which to discuss her problems.
The Sheldon Report is of great value as it has brought
sharply into focus the true aims of the child health service,
many of which have already been achieved here in Redbridge.
Full implementation of the Report may take 10-20 years and n
fresh generation of doctors, whose appreciation of the value of
this work would result from a new kind of undergraduate
education.
Births
In 1967 there were 3627 live births in the Borough and the
illegitimacy rate was 15-23 Close liaison exists with all
midwives and maternity units in the area for the immediate
notification of all births where some form of congenital abnormality
is present or is suspected. Arrangements are made
for the follow up of these cases by Health Visitors, or by
direct approach to the Paediatrician in charge of the case so
that full details can be forwarded to the Registrar Generator
in the case of residents outside the Borough to the responsible
Health Authority.
83 such cases were reported in 1967, details of which are
given in Appendix 9.
The Observation
Register
Dr. Joan M. Pooley, M.B., B.S., D.C.H., Senior Departmental
Officer reports as follows:—
The Observation Register in Redbridge has now been in
existence for two complete years.
The same five groups of factors are still in use namely:-
1. Genetic
2. Pre-natal
3. Peri-natal
4. Post-natal
5. Symptomatic
Routine medical examinations are carried out by Local
Authority Departmental Medical Officers, or In some instances
by the patient's General Practitioner in each case with the
help of a Health Visitor.
The comparative figures given below show:—
1. A slight decrease in the number of infants admitted
to the register during 1967.
2. A decrease in the number of factors involved (indieating
a slightly greater degree of selectivity In their
application).