Family Medical Clinic

One of the reasons that there is quite a low perinatal mortality rate in the USA and Europe is the prenatal care (or antental care) given to the expectant mother, and the specialist help supplied, by the following people:

• Family doctor (GP) The family doctor is usually the first person to be consulted if a woman thinks she is pregnant. It is quite possible that the doctor will be part of a group practice at a health centre. He or she may be a GPO (general practitioner obstetrician), i.e., a family doctor who specialises in care of pregnant women and children. Some GPs run their own antenatal clinics; otherwise they may refer the expectant mother to a hospital or local antenatal clinic. In any case the doctor will give general care and advice during the pregnancy.

• Health visitor The health visitor is a RGN (registered general nurse) with at least three months’ midwifery experience who has attended a one-year technical college course. She or he does in fact look after the whole community, and is usually attached to a health centre, a general practice or a local welfare clinic. She or he may also work as a district nurse, providing nursing at home for people who need it. The health visitor may run the antenatal clinic and the child welfare clinic, and usually gets to know families very well.

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