[Report 1948] / Medical Officer of Health, Durham County Palatine / County Council.

  • Durham (England : County). Council.
Date:
1948
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

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

    24/142 (page 22)
    Post-natal Care.—The proportion of mothers who avail themselves of the facilities at the post-natal clinics is still relatively low. The principal demand is for advice and help in connexion with minor gynae- cological conditions which do not require surgical intervention. Advice is sought on sterility. Birth Control.—Advice is given at nineteen centres on medical grounds. Child Care,—The activities of the infant and child welfare clinics comprise routine weighing examination and advice ; immunisation against diphtheria ; the provision of drugs, vitamin foods and baby foods (which at the discretion of the assistant welfare medical officer may be given free in necessitous cases) ; ultra violet ray treatment (at 23 centres) ; and educational work. Mothers who attend with their children are if necessary examined and given advice. Co-operation between the clinics and the Department of Child Health in Newcastle is close. Prevention of deafness.—Arrangements exist for the provision of specialist treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and the Fleming Memorial Hospital, Newcastle. Treatment of Squint.—Special provision has been made for examin- ation and treatment. Orthopaedic treatment.—The County Council defray the cost of in-patient treatment and appliances in necessitous cases. Physically defective children.—Arrangements are made for admis- sion to special schools in suitably selected cases. County Convalescent Home.—This provides rest and more contin- uous supervision and instruction than can be given at periodic visits to a clinic. It has accommodation for 24 children aged 1-5 years and 9 | mothers with their babies under 6 months. i The County of Durham Federation of Voluntary Workers has a Convalescent scheme for mothers who are not eligible for the County Conv'alescent Home. Dental Service.—Extension of this service is desirable, as soon as circumstances permit. Twelve part-time dentists are employed by the Voluntary Committees at 12 of the County Council centres. The mothers pay moderate fees for treatment. The County Council give grants towards the fees of the dentists and pay the cost of dentures in necessitous cases. Nurseries.—The County Council administers two day nurseries with an aggregate of 120 places and two residential nurseries with an aggregate of 90 places. Three of these are used in connexion with the scheme of training for the National Nursery Certificate. Care of Unmarried Mothers.—The Council’s Officers co-operate closely with the officers of the Durham Diocesan Moral Welfare Associa- tion in the care of unmarried mothers. The Council contribute towards the maintenance of one of the Association’s homes (St. Monnica’s, Bishop Auckland) and have agreed to assist the Association to equip and maintain another (Ramsidc. near Durham).