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V.—MATERNITY AND CHILD
WELFARE.
Alterations of some importance have been made during the
year both in the method of visiting and in the conduction of the
Clinics. Prior to the alterations, the Borough was divided into
nine districts, one district being allotted to each Municipal Health
Visitor in which she was responsible for the visitation of the homes
of all persons coming within the scope of the Maternity and Child
Welfare Act, the remaining district being allocated to Guy's
Hospital. But in addition to the Municipal Clinics and Health
Visitors, there are a number of voluntary organisations doing
Maternity and Child Welfare work in the Borough, and Health
Visitors from these Centres paid visits to the homes of their own
mothers. Two defects were apparent in this arrangement. In
the first place the same house and sometimes the same family
was visited on occasion by both Municipal and Voluntary Health
Visitors. A more serious, though less common fault was the
fact that some families were missed altogether by the Visitors
of both agencies. The Maternity and Child Welfare Act has
been in force for some years now, and it was felt that some reconstruction
of the scheme was necessary in order to secure regular
visitation of the whole district and, if possible, more widespread
utilisation of the facilities offered by the scheme.
The Borough has therefore been divided into twelve districts—
eight Municipal Districts and one district each for the
following voluntary agencies:— Princess Club, St. George's Hall,
Fulford Street, and the Salomon's Centre. In each District
there are approximately 200 births per annum and each Health
Visitor is expected to make not less than seventy visits per week,
the visits being arranged in her diary and recorded in her register.
The chief alteration which has been made in connection with the
Clinics has been the introduction of a system of appointments,
the object being to eliminate the long wait preceding consultation.
These changes took effect from the Ist April, 1928, and experience
has already proved their value. I would like at this point to
express my thanks to the Committees and Officers of the Voluntary
Centres for their willing help in effecting the changes and for
their hearty co-operation in the new arrangements. As one
consequence of the changes it has been necessary for this year
only, to include four tables instead of two, in order to show the
work of the Health Visitors.