[Report 1948 / Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex County Council.

  • Middlesex (England). County Council. n 99020326.
Date:
1948
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1948 / Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    gynaecological rather than purely post-natal; a child welfare clinic may be for toddlers only, for breast-feeding only, or for the teaching of mothercraft. In a report on these lines, it is not easy to differentiate. Suffice it to say that every aspect of maternity and child care is catered for. Consultant ante-natal clinics are held in most areas, and it is hoped that this service may be extended by co-operation with the Regional Hospital Boards. A scheme for the special care of the premature baby in its own home is the first one that has been inaugurated on a County basis since the 5th July, 1948. This took origin in Area 7, and having- received the approval of the Health Committee in principle, was then circulated to the other areas for adaptation, each to its particular need. Special equipment such as heated cots, oxygen tents, screens, &c., has been acquired for loan to the home, and close liaison with the appropriate hospitals will be maintained. These measures will, it is to be hoped, result in a further fall in the neo-natal death rate. Day nurseries have been in existence throughout the County for a number of years. The total now to be administered is 95. Of these, the great majority are training nurseries. The advantages of training in this work as in other subjects (such as midwifery) are twofold—the standard of work is maintained at a higher level than in a non-training institution, and a source of recruitment of trained staff is to hand. Approval of the Ministry of Health is necessary for training to be undertaken. The lectures and theory, together with a course of further education, are provided by the Education Committee at its Technical Colleges. The practical work is done in the day nursery as part of the daily nursery routine. Contrary to certain expectations, the apparent need for day nursery provision does not diminish. The future of this service cannot as yet be foreseen. In all probability a number will have to be maintained for social reasons—there will be the fatherless child to be catered for, the problem child for whom attendance at a day nursery is beneficial on medical grounds, and the emergency case whose admission for a short period is needed perhaps during the mother's illness or confinement. The three residential nurseries in existence on 5th July (Bourne House, Connaught Hostel and Bengeo House) are now administered by the Children’s Department. At the present time, the Children's Committee has not recruited its full complement of staff—Children’s Welfare Officers, &c.—and therefore much of the Child Life Protection work is still in the hands of the Health Visitors who are in this connection working in conjunction with the local Children’s Officers. The Nurseries and Child Minders Act (1948), at the close of the year had yet to be considered, and suitable standards for both had yet to be worked out. This should close several loopholes in the existing legislation. There are a few child minders approved under existing schemes (10 in Area 9 and 44 in Area 3), who continue under the supervision of the Area Medical Officers. Chief of the non-delegated functions is the care of the unsupported mother and her child. Hitherto, this was partly undertaken through the former Public Assistance Department and the home (St. Mary's, Hampton Wick), established by that department has been transferred to the Health Committee. Plans were well ahead on 5th July, for the transfer of this home to a more commodious house in Ealing, and it is hoped that the move will take place early in 1949. A second house in Willesden, originally intended by the Willesden Borough Council as a home for expectant mothers and toddlers is in process of adaptation as a hostel for 12 post-natal mothers with their babies. The British Red Cross Society has two hostels in Hendon—one for ante-natal cases and one for post-natal and the County Council rents a proportion of the beds in each. The admissions to and discharges from these beds, as with those in the Council's own home, are in the hands of the Special Services Almoner. Priority Dental Service. The following report on the work of the priority dental service has been prepared by the County Council's Chief Dental Officer, Mr. J. F. Pilbeam :— “ Among the duties laid on Local Health Authorities by Section 22 of the National Health Service Act, is that of making special provision for the dental care of expectant and nursing mothers and young children. The Inter-Departmental Committee on Dentistry stated in its Interim Report of 1944, that in the evidence before them, which was admittedly incomplete, the provision made by Welfare Authorities for dental care of expectant and nursing mothers and of young children was in most places extremely meagre. They drew attention to the harm that oral diseases can cause to both mother and child, and they recommended that special provision should be made for dental treatment for these classes. The outcome of this fundamental decision was the implementation of this recommendation in Section 22 of the Act. It is probable that the special arrangements for the dental care of these classes were included under Part III of the Act, because it was felt that owing to the shortage of dentists, the general dental service would not be able to cope effectively with all the mothers and children needing treatment. Regular dental supervision is essential if comprehensive treatment is to be assured and this is more conveniently and suitably obtained if the dental service is linked with the work of the ante-natal
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