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34
Chelsea Health Society.—This Society was formed at the end of
the year 1910, under the patronage of Earl Cadogan, K.G., and
commenced its work in the Borough early in 1911. The primary object
of the Society is to promote the improvement of the health of mothers
and infants in Chelsea by means of visits to the homes by voluntary
Lady Health Visitors. Each family is visited periodically—infants once
a month, as a general rule, but more frequently when necessary. Advice
is given to the mothers as to the care and management of the infants,
and practical demonstrations are afforded of the methods advocated.
Visitors aim at checking illness by observing early symptoms of infantile
disorders, and pointing out to the parents the necessity of prompt
medical attention. Out-patients attending hospitals are also visited at
their homes to ensure that the instructions given at the hospitals are
being carried out as far as possible. Expectant mothers are advised as
regards their health, and as to making suitable provision for their
confinements.
Infant consultations under the direction of a medical practitioner
(Dr. Beckett-Overy) have been held weekly in a room at the Wesleyan
Methodist Hall, King's-road, since July, 1911. The average attendance
of mothers with infants has been 23.
The total number of cases referred to the Society in 1911 was 504,
and the total number of visits paid 3,692. Of the 504 cases, 216 were
references from St. George's Hospital. Out of 250 infants visited during
the summer months over 30 were attacked with infantile diarrhoea, but
all made a good recovery.
The Society has worked in co-operation with the Public Health
Department and with the various charitable, relief, and district visiting
organisations of the Borough, and has undoubtedly been the means of
doing an immense amount of good work in the prevention of disease and
suffering, and in enabling the poor to make the best use of their own
means and of existing organisations for improving their own and their
children's health. The work of the Society should tend not only to the
reduction of infantile mortality, but to the rearing of children of better
physique and constitutional stamina than is possible where the poorest
class of mothers are left to their own unaided guidance.