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duty, so that for the whole of the Borough there are 13½ Health
Visitors, apart from the part-time services of the Council's women
Sanitary Inspectors, engaged in defined areas for the purpose of
visiting the homes and giving instruction to expectant and nursing
mothers, and educating these mothers in the care and management
of children under five years of age. Having regard to the fall in the
number of births in recent years and to the fact that many children
attend school before they reach the age of compulsory attendance,
I am of the opinion that the number of Health Visitors engaged is
adequate for the area.
The work of the Voluntary Infant Welfare Centres is coordinated
with the Municipal Scheme, the Borough Council contributing
financial assistance in aid of the work of such Voluntary
Associations.
A summary of the home visiting carried out by the Health
Visitors in the respective Infant Welfare Centres districts appears
in the table on page 24.
Children and Young Persons Acts, 1908 to 1932.
The London County Council were the Authority responsible
for the discharge of the duties under the above Acts covering the
period of this Report. As from April 1st, 1933, these functions
were delegated to the Metropolitan Borough Councils under the
Transfer of Powers (London) Order, 1933.
Orthopcedic Treatment.
The prevention of crippling lies in the early ascertainment
of disease. This is provided for by the existing Maternity and
Child Welfare and Tuberculosis Services of the Council.
A Register of Cripples is kept in the Public Health Department
in which is recorded particulars of children known to the Health
Visitors to be suffering from crippling conditions. These cases are
followed up periodically to ensure that they receive treatment at the
Orthopaedic Departments of the various General Hospitals in
London. There is no Orthopaedic Clinic established in the Borough.
Environmental supervision is also given to those cases admitted on
the Medical Officer of Health's certificate to the London County
Council special Hospital for Cripples at Carshalton.
Institutional Provision for Unmarried Mothers.
The Council pays an annual grant to the National British
Women's Temperance Association which maintains a Hostel known
as the "House of Help," 201, Camberwell Grove, for the reception
of unmarried mothers with their babies.
This Hostel has accommodation for 16 infants. It is not a
maternity home; the infants are usually three weeks or a month
old on admission.
The Council also contributes to the cost of the maintenance of
unmarried Camberwell girls boarded out in approved Maternity
Homes and Hostels by the Southwark Diocesan Association for
Preventive and Rescue Work.