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21 [1916
THE SOUTH ISLINGTON MOTHERS' AND BABIES'
WELFARE CENTRE.
9, Tyndale Place,
Upper Street, Islington.
Report for the year 1916.
The Centre opened in September, 1915, so that 1916 was the first full
year's work, and it is one of rapid growth and extended activities.
Ante-natal Work.—Until the end of June the Ante-natal Consultations
were held at the same time as the Infant Consultations, but it has been found
much better to have them at a different time. This work which is under the
Four Boroughs Maternity Scheme has made steady progress, and the midwives
and Hospitals send an ever-increasing number of patients to the CentreFortnightly
sewing classes and health talks for young mothers expecting a first
baby have recently been started and a scheme has just been instituted for the
hire of maternity bags containing simple requisites for the mothers.
Thirty-two consultations were held during the year, at which there were 66
attendances, of which 30 were during the last quarter of the year; 93 home
visits were paid.
Post-natal Consultations for Mothers.—In December, fortnightly
consultations were instituted for mothers with babies under two years old, as
experience showed that many mothers needed advice for troubles which arose
after the birth of a child and which prevented the mothers from regaining
their strength and often caused serious trouble at subsequent confinements.
Infant Welfare Work.—110 weighings and consultations have been
held during the year; there were 3,348 weighings of children under 5 years old;
2,012 consultations; 30 was the average number weighed in an afternoon;
18 was the average attendance at the consultations; 121 children were on the
books on 1st January, 1916; 640 children were on the books on 31st December,
1916; 430 children under 1 year of age attended the Centre during 1916;
20 children under 1 year old attending the Centre died during 1916, of which
6 children had only been to the Centre once.
At the end of January the numbers attending the one weekly consultation
were so large that it became necessary to hold a second consultation each
week, and by September a third weekly consultation had to be instituted.
At the same time it was found necessary to increase the Staff by the
appointment of an Assistant Superintendent, and even so it has not been
possible to visit all new-born babies notified to the Centre by the Public
Health Department of the Borough Council. Many mothers bring their babies
up to the Centre as a result of receiving a leaflet about the Centre from the
Town Hall.