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32
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
Report by the Medical Officer in charge of
the Maternity and Child Welfare Department
(Miss Ruby Thomson, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H.)
on the work ok the department.
The year 1932 saw a further step in the unification
and development of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Department. On the resignation of Dr. Hardy at the
end of December, 1931, it was decided that the time had
come for the appointment of a full-time Medical Officer
to replace the part-time workers. As Dr. Ross (Mrs.
Colston) was unable to undertake full-time duties, she
resigned her part-time appointment at the end of February.
Accordingly, Dr. Anna Park was appointed as
Assistant Medical Officer, and assumed duty on 1st
March, 1932. She has shared the general work of the
Department and has had entire medical charge of the
Babies' Hospital.
Although from the statistics following it will be
seen that the figures referring to visits in the homes arc
lower than in 1931, there has been an unusual number
of special visits which have tended to take longer than
the ordinary routine ones. The number of ante-natal
visits has steadily increased; first visits paid to young
pregnant women call for the exercise of much tact and
patience and take a long time.
The increasing number of ante-natal and other
reports required by Hospitals and other institutions
means a great increase in the work of the Maternity and
Child Welfare Clerk. It is her duty to make a precis
of the Health Visitor's report, to be forwarded to the
institution concerned. This increase in the clinical side
of her work makes great inroads into the time which
was formerly available for the ordinary routine work;
the constant additions to the clerical work of the Department
during the last two or three years is a matter which
should be noted. The development of relationships