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60
First Report of the Surrey Square Voluntary Infant Welfare
Centre, February 3rd, 1916, to March 31st, 1917.
The Centre was opened on February 3rd, 1916, when 28 mothers
and babies attended. The following figures are recorded up to March
31st, 1917:—
Total number of babies on the books 243
Do. consultations held (at which 1185 babies
were seen by the doctor) 50
Do. attendances made 2218
The highest attendance on any one day was 78, the lowest 13 and
the average 41.18.
During the first two months the visiting was entirely done by two
voluntary workers, but owing to the increase in numbers, Sister Sharpless
was appointed—in April, 1916—part-time Health Visitor, increasing her
time to three days a week in November. In the twelve months, from
April 1st, 1916, to March 31st, 1917, Sister Sharpless paid about 2670
visits, and the two voluntary workers, who assisted her, about 1400.
Co-operation between the Municipal Health Authorities and the
Centre has been happily arranged. The Municipal Health Visitors pay
all the first, or birth visits, filling up the cards and sending to the Centre's
Visitor those belonging to her district. The Centre's Visitor then visits
each mother, telling her about the work of the Centre and giving her an
invitation to join. When the mother attends, the Centre takes the baby
under its care, frequent visits are paid to the home, the mother is
encouragcd to attend regularly, and is helped in every way to carry out
the doctor's instructions. Should the mother refuse to attend after one
or two visits, her card is returned to the municipality and she is not
again visited from the Centre unless she eventually joins of her own
accord.
From the commencement of the Centre, the Thursday consultations
have been conducted by Dr. Flora Shepperd, whose work at several
centres and schools for mothers is well known to anyone connected with
infant welfare work. To her charm of personality and sympathy with
the women, as well as to her exhaustive knowledge of the subject, must
be attributed the success of the work that has been done.