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60
remainder of the expense. A third centre has been opened at Oseney Crescent
during 1920. A feature of the centres are special consultations for children
aged from one to two years (monthly at Oseney Crescent) and from two
to five (monthly at Argyle Square and at Oseney Crescent). There is a
Mother's Committee who assist in the management. The two Centres are at:—
40, Argyle Square, W.C.I. This is a house rented for the purpose, and
well equipped as a full-time Centre. The rent is repaid by the
Council.
Weslyan Schoolroom, Falkland Road, N. W. 5. These are rooms in school
premises rented for part time, the rent being repaid by the Borough
Council.
Maternity Nursing Association, Oakley Square, N W.1. This institution,
which sends out midwives and maternity nurses, maintains ante-natal and
infant consultations for the mothers it atteuds in confinement. These are held
at the St. Pancras Dispensary, 89, Oakley Square, no rent being paid.
University College Hospital, Gower Street, W.C.I. The consultations
here are now restricted mainly to infants who are actually ailing. They are
held in the hospital premises, and the Borough Council docs not bear any of
the expense. Mothers attended in their confinement by the hospital, either
intern or extern, are referred to the various local infant wellare centres
serving the localities in which they live, lists being 1 supplied to the Medical
Officer of Health. The hospital consultations then serve for ailing babies
who are referred back from the local centres and otherwise.
Royal Frez Hospital, Gray's Inn Road, W.C.I This hospital maintains
ante-natal and infant consultations here, and at. the branch maternity hospital
at No. 21, Ensleigh Street, for women attended by them in confinement.
The St. Pancras cases are in a minority, and the Borough Council contributes
towards the salary of the paid visitor.
At the centres 18 infant consultations per week (851 in the year) and 21
special ante-natal consultations per month (248 in the year) have been held
during 1919. The medical fees have been paid by the Borough Council,
except in the case of the consultations at the hospitals. As mentioned above,
the consultations have been attended by 11 full-time and 7 part-time (qua.
St. Pancras) paid superintendents and assistants, who also carry out the home
visiting. Of these 10 full-time and 4 part-lime are paid by the Council.
They have been assisted by a devoted band of ladies who give their services
in helping at the consultations. A great debt of gratitude is due to these
ladies, and more volunteers are wanted for this important work. The number
of medical consultations and of paid workers has been increased since the end
of the year.
During 1919 the children who have attended the consultations for the first
time have numbered 2,311 under one year of age and 230 over that age.
The children under one amount to 60.4 per cent. of the births registered for
the year. The total number of attendances made by children was 26,252.
744 expectant mothers also attended during the year for the first time, the
total number of attendances of expectants being 3,343. This figure does not
include the outpatient work at University College Hospital. Details of the
attendances at the centres will be found in the table on page 59.
Dental Clinic for Mothers and Children under school age.—The Borough Council
dental clinic for mothers and children attending at and referred from the
maternity and child welfare centres in the Borough was continued for its