§ Mr. Bennasked the Minister of Health how many hospitals in England and Wales there are which normally deal with maternity cases; how many, and which, of those have pre-natal relaxation and natural childbirth training clinics for expectant mothers attached to them or provide facilities for this purpose; who conducts these clinics; what percentage of 86W expectant mothers are covered by these facilities; what efforts are made to inform expectant mothers of the existence of these clinics; whether he is able to report on the success or failure of these clinics; and whether he is satisfied that there are enough of them to meet the need.
§ Mr. CrookshankSix hundred and nineteen hospitals have maternity beds but I have no information of the number with pre-natal relaxation clinics. Such clinics are normally conducted by physiotherapists under the supervision of the obstetric staff who would themselves refer suitable patients to the clinics. The value of these clinics is primarily a matter of professional opinion, which I understand is at present divided.