[Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Denbighshire County Council.

  • Denbighshire (Wales). County Council. no2004062613.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Denbighshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Puerperal Pyrexia and Ophthallmia Neonatorwm. With regard to the notifications of Puerperal Pyrexia and Ophthalmia Neonatorum, I cannot accept the figures implicitly. The advent of Sulphonamides and, recently, the Antibiotics, has given the doctor useful adjuncts to combat these infections, so that notifications seldom become neces- sary if these are promptly given. Consecjuently, I would - suggest that the hypodermic in this instance is mightier than the pen. Plowever, eye infections in newborn infants, while responding well to Antibiotics, are inclined to relapse unless the treatment is thorough and sufficiently prolonged, and once having relapsed there is a tendency to chronicity and resistance to treatment. Ante and Post Natal Services. As previously intimated, the clerical staff employed on Maternity and Child Welfare were absorbed into one Section or Group, under the supervision of a Senior Clerk. Such an arrangement concentrates documentation into the one office and ensures a close co-operation, as well as a greater degree of specialisation amongst the staff. The routine work is bet- ter co-ordinated and duplication is avoided, and full economic use is made of all equipment and material. The Ante and Post Natal Clinics in charge of Mr. Owen Jones and Dr. C. F, Lucas, have been well attended, but there has been a decline in some of the clinics at which other Medical Officers attended. This can be accounted for by the fact that Mr. Owen Jones’ clinics are considered consultative, while those attended by other Medical Officers emphasise educational aspects rather than clinical. These functions are complementary, and both contribute to the medical and ])sychological approach of the mother to her confinement. It is regretted that this view-point is not more universally accepted amongst the profession and the public, for it is at these educational sessions that time is devoted to instructing the mothers in the application of the advice given by the Obstetrician. The peaceful, harmonious anticipation of a labour goes far to making sure that at the confinement, the full co-operation of the mother will be obtained actively and sub-consciously. General advice on all health matters is given by the Clinic staff, and subjects for discussion include: Diet—The free supply of vitamins by the Ministry of Food is far from being fully taken.