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13
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
In March, 1940, the maternity and child welfare centres at
Elsdale Street, Lower Clapton Road and Richmond Road ceased to
be used as first-line first-aid posts and it was possible to restore the
premises to their former use. The first-aid post at Eton Manor
Club, Riseholme Street, was at the same time placed on a care and
maintenance basis and it became possible to hold in these premises
the ante-natal and infant welfare sessions held prior to the war at
Eton Mission, Eastway, which premises had been requisitioned by
another authority for civil defence purposes. The dental and
actinotherapy clinics were recommenced and a sufficient number of
ante-natal and child welfare sessions are now held to meet the needs
of the population remaining in the Borough.
Some of the Health Visitors, whose services were needed at
first-aid posts in the early months of the war, were released from
their civil defence duties and returned to their normal work which
has assumed a special importance under present circumstances.
The tables which follow show the number of half-day sessions
held during the year at the various centres and the attendances of
mothers and infants thereat. It will be seen that the average
attendance of women at ante-natal clinics and of infants at child
welfare clinics were 10 and 20, which may be regarded as satisfactory
under the conditions which obtained in London during the year.