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96 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Nurses.
Arrangements have been made with various nursing associations
in the Borough to attend cases of ophthalmia neonatorum,
measles, whooping-cough, diarrhoea and pneumonia following
influenza, measles or whooping-cough, when and as requested by
the Medical Officer of Health at a fee of eightpence per visit. 2,746
such visits were paid during the year.
Clapham is served by the South I.ondon District Nursing
Association ; Putney and Roehampton by the nurses appointed by
the Parochial Nursing Associations; and Streatham, Tooting,
Wandsworth, and part of Ba.ham, by Raynard Nurses, of whom
there are 12 working in the Borough. The northern district of
Streatham is served by the Brixton Nursing Association. Arrangements
are being made for the services of an additional nurse in
Balham.
Consultation and Treatment Centres.
As no treatment is given at the various Infant Welfare Centres,
children are sent to suitable hospitals or to private doctors. The
principal diseases found were affections of the fyes, ears, throat
or skin, advanced cases of rickets and the like.
Maternity Homes.
There are 34 private maternity hemes in the Borough, four of
which are earned on by practising midwives. At present expectant
mothers are sent either to the Clapham Maternity Hospital or to
any similar institution where there is accommodation, the Council
defraying the cost of £2 per week up to £6. Patients so sent are
asked to pay 30s., the amount of the maternity benefit under the
National Insurance Act, but in cases of extreme necessity this
payment is remitted.
Four mothers were sent to maternity homes during the year
and cards were given to two others who did not avail themselves of
offer.