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22
The informal arrangement for the hospital treatment of
children attending the various Centres, comprised in the
Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme, made with the
Victoria Children's Hospital, Tite Street, Chelsea, has been
continued, and the Council, in view of the extended use made
of the facilities granted to the patients sent from the clinics,
increased their annual contribution to the funds of the hospital.
It is to be hoped that a more permanent arrangement, under
which one or two beds would be reserved for the use of
patients from the Borough clinics, will be made with the
hospital authorities. The development of the Council's scheme
in this direction is bringing to light an increasing number of
patients, for whom it is imperative that hospital treatment be
provided. The early diagnosis and prompt surgical or other
treatment, which can only be successfully and safely carried
out at a well-equipped hospital, is a matter of the greatest
importance, and frequently is the means of saving the little
patients from permanent physical defects and their consequences.
No maternity and child welfare scheme can be
regarded as complete where adequate hospital facilities are not
readily available. The proximity of such a well-known
children's hospital, where modern surgical and medical treatment
is available, is a distinct advantage to the Borough
scheme.
In connection with the Council's scheme, nursing attendance
is now freely available, arrangements having been made
with the South London District Nursing Association to provide
nursing attendance at the homes of patients when required. The
value of the work carried out in this direction cannot be overestimated,
and the results must necessarily produce a marked
effect upon the mortality rate amongst young children.
During 1920 the total number of attendances made by the
nurses was as follows:—