[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Romford].

  • Romford (London, England). Municipal Borough.
Date:
[1961]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Romford]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    One of the biggest problems the aged have to face is that of idleness and loneliness. Kindly neighbours do a great deal of voluntary duties in visiting and assisting aged persons living alone, but often the only caller is the Home Help. Many old people become depressed and apathetic and will not make any effort to join in social activities outside their own homes. Sometimes they vigorously resist the offer of social services they sorely need, and in many cases patient and understanding contact is required to help without offending. PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICE Under the National Health Service Act, the Romford Health Area Sub-Committee of the Health Committee of the County Council controls the day-to-day administration of the Maternity and Child Welfare Service, Domiciliary Nursing, etc. Details of these services and of the work carried out are given below:— CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN Ante-Natal Care. Of the 932 mothers confined at home during the year, 841 received ante-natal care from their General Practitioners. 181 mothers attended the ante-natal Clinics, 90 of whom were confined at home. Ante-Natal Instruction Classes Incomplete understanding of the process of childbearing can give rise to the development of a state of anxiety and apprehension in a mother during her confinement. This in turn creates tension which causes much of the discomfort and pain of childbirth. The over anxious fearful mother will tend to have a more painful labour than her more placid neighbour. An increasing number of expectant mothers are now demanding that they should be instructed, as a part of ante-natal care, in the changes taking place in their bodies so that they can adopt a relaxed state of mind during pregnancy and parturition. Health Visitors now hold classes for expectant mothers at three Centres in the town where instruction in the process of pregnancy and labour is given, and exercises are taught in order to help mothers rest and relax during labour. Such preparation is well worthwhile not only for emotional reasons but also because it helps greatly in conserving a mother's energy for the physical efforts which the process of parturi tion demands. Page 22