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102
If the full value of these re-visits is to be obtained it is
necessary that there should be associated with them a clinic
or dispensary, to which the mothers of infants who are not
thriving may be referred for medical advice.
The Babies' Welcome, Lower Place.— An infant consultation,
known as the "Babies' Welcome," is held on one
iafternoon a week in one of the poorest localities of Willesden,
and is conducted by one of the Health Visitors. Like
the visits paid under the Notification of Births Act, 1907,
the work of the Welcome is educative in character. The
mothers are given short talks on baby care, and are shown
practically as far as possible what to do for the baby. An
extension of the work of this Clinic so that medical advice
may be also given to the mothers is urgently necessary, as
dealt with in my Report on Maternity and Child Welfare,
which appears as Appendix D to this Report. The following
is the report of the Health Visitor on the work during
1914:—
"Since September this has been held in the small
kitchen at the above address on Monday afternoons,
and is attended on an average by 14 mothers and 10
babies.
"With few exceptions, the babies attending are
those whose mothers have been advised to give them
"Glaxo," which is sold to them.
"Owing to want of space the mothers and babies
are dealt with in turn, and their departure hastened to
make room for others. The work is thus limited to
weighing the child, enquiring as to its condition since
the last visit, and advising accordingly; selling the
"Glaxo" required, and giving the mother a cup of tea
and biscuits.
"Any mother whose baby shows signs of ill-health
is advised to take it to a hospital or doctor.