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Hospital, and Middlesex Hospital. The chief parts of the scheme are shown in the
following summary, which indicates that at the end of the year there were available
in the Borough no fewer than seven centres where attention was given to infant
and child welfare, and if those at the hospitals are included, four ante-natal clinics.
In addition, there was a dining centre for nursing and expectant mothers, a dental
clinic for mothers and young children, a day nursery and a nursing home for wasting
babies; the latter opened during the year.
The following is the summary referred to. It is based upon a return made to
the Local Government Board and gives much statistical information with regard to
work done in 1918.
"Health Visitors.—One whole-time Health Visitor who works only in
connection with the Church Street Centre of the Health Society, and three parttime
Health Visitors who are also Sanitary Inspectors. The voluntary workers of
the St. Marylebone Health Society and of the League of Social Service also do
visiting in co-operation with the work of the Council. The borough is divided into
three districts, and in 1918 the Municipal Health Visitors made 2,828 visits to
1,525 infants, and the voluntary visitors attached to the St. Marylebone School
for Mothers made 8,324 visits to 606 infants. Children are visited up to school age.
Centres—Voluntary.—The St. Marylebone Health Society have five centres :
(1) North Marylebone School of Mothercraft, Church Street, has an ante- and postnatal
consultation under medical supervision. The Municipal Health Visitors
co-operate. The ante-natal work is linked up with the Queen Charlotte's Lying-in
Hospital. (2) South Marylebone School of Mothercraft, St. Marylebone General
Dispensary, 77, Welbeck Street, W. An ante-natal clinic, which is linked up with
the Middlesex Hospital, is held once weekly, and an infant consultation is held twice
weekly, both under medical supervision. There is a superintendent and a part-time
assistant, both of whom are nurses. Children attend up to school age, and the
Municipal Health Visitors co-operate. 187 Children attended in 1918 and there
were altogether 767 attendances. The Municipal Health Visitor attends. No
treatment is given. (3) Ogle Mews, Ogle Street, W. 255 children attended in
1918, and there were altogether 682 attendances at the infant consultations.
Classes for cookery, needlework and hygiene are held weekly: (4) Henry Street.
Infant consultation held weekly, attended by the Municipal Health Visitor.
64 children attended in 1918, and there were altogether 1,129 attendances;
and (5) 101, Crawford, Street.—Infant consultation held weekly, attended by
Municipal Health Visitor. This Centre was only opened early in 1917, and up to
the end of the year, 100 children had attended and made 623 attendances.
In addition to these Centres, consultations are held weekly at Queen Charlotte's
Hospital and the Branch of the Women's League of Social Service, 35, Lisson
Street. Each is presided over by a specially appointed Medical Officer. One of
the Municipal Health Visitors attends the former. The Women's League Centre
is attended by a Health Visitor appointed by the League, who, however, submits a
weekly report to the Medical Officer of Health. The Centre at Queen Charlotte's
Hospital is open to others than St. Marylebone babies, of whom 215 attended and
made 1,150 attendances. The number attending the Centre in Lisson Street was
38 and the total attendances 592.
Ante-natal work as indicated above. There are two voluntary ante-natal clinics.
Visiting is undertaken by the Municipal Health Visitors and by the workers
attached to the societies, and there is a system of co-operation with the Middlesex
and Queen Charlotte's Lying-in Hospitals.