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15
with the care and feeding of children at nominal charges
during the absence of the mothers at their various occupations
(Laundrywork, &c.), and do not hold infant consultations.
1. The Princess Christian Creche, Blythe Road,
which has accommodation for 40 children ;
2. The Blechynden Street Mission which has
modation for 40 children ; and
3. The Princess Mary Adelaide Day Nursery, Wood
Street, which has accommodation for 15
children.
Besides the above-mentioned societies and creches, the
West London Hospital also deals with a large number of
children under school age, both in the out-patient department
and in the wards as in-patients. The services of the experts
there are utilised by the above centres, who refer cases
requiring indoor or more specialised treatment to this
institution.
At the centres the babies are weighed, their progress
noted and if this is not satisfactory the mother is given appropriate
advice, for which purpose doctors of both sexes attend.
Advice is given to the mothers individually on their own
particular baby and in classes generally. The nursing mother
is also advised as to her own health.
Expectant mothers are also seen and given any necessary
advice by the doctors and trained nurses present. These are
at present few in number and difficult to persuade to attend
the consultations, but the numbers are gradually increasing.
Sewing classes are held on certain evenings, when the
mothers are taught to cut out and make garments for children.
In addition to these classes held at the various centres, a
large amount of visiting is done to the homes of those people
who attend the classes and the homes of many who do not
attend. The visiting is done by trained nurses and also by
voluntary workers. These visits to the homes do a vast
amount of good. Insanitary conditions are noted and where
necessary reported and useful advice is given to the mothers.
These centres are proving extremely useful, and appreciation
of the centres is shown by the fact that those who are
persuaded to attend do so regularly, and often bring their
friends who are in need of advice with them.
Formerly infants under one year of age were treated, but
now every child up to the age of five years is dealt with.