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LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY TRANSFERRED FUNCTIONS
As was explained in the preamble to the report, the following brief
statement summarises the work of the local health authority in respect
of the transferred functions.
The Care of Mothers and Young Children. Infant welfare clinics and
general supervisory control through health visiting were continued by
the Surrey County Council during the year. In general, a high standard
of visiting and a smooth and efficient service were maintained.
Ante-natal and Post-natal Supervision. This clinic, as in previous
years, continued to be held at the Nurses' Home, 57 Montagu Gardens.
During the year, 236 women made 849 pre-natal attendances. This
represents an attendance of 55 percent of the total number of confinements
which occurred during 1950. Post-natal examinations were also
conducted at this clinic, 22 patients making 22 attendances. As mentioned
in previous reports, however, considerably more women have post-natal
supervision than are recorded here. Those who have institutional
confinements usually return to hospital as a routine a few weeks after
their discharge, and have their post-natal examination conducted by
the hospital Medical Officers.
Infant Welfare Services. No changes were made during the year
in the operation of the four infant welfare centres, and the number of
attendances showed results comparable with those of previous years.
Number Total
attending attendances
Children under 1 year 333 5,050
Children, 1-5 years 803 3,763
Total attendances 1,136 8,813
Institutional Confinements. Three hundred and four, or 71 percent,
of births allocated to this district, took place in hospitals and nursing
homes, this being a slightly higher percentage than recorded in previous
years. Unsatisfactory home conditions, especially overcrowding, made
it necessary for many women to seek a hospital confinement, and in
some cases patients had their confinements in institutions for medical
reasons.
Domestic Help Service. This important branch of social service
continued to meet a great need during the year, both for confinements
and illness in the home. The service is administered by the Divisional
Medical Officer from the Wallington Town Hall, and during the year
one of the W.V.S. ladies (Mrs. D. Best) continued to act as Home Help
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