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V.—MATERNITY AND CHILD
WELFARE.
In my last report it was mentioned that proposals had been
received both from the Reverend Walter Spencer and the Rev.
Humphrey Richardson suggesting that the time had arrived for the
Borough Council to assume full responsibility for the infant
welfare centres hitherto operated on a voluntary basis at the
Central Hall and at St. George's Hall. After full discussion it was
finally decided that the Borough Council should take over both
centres on terms which were mutually acceptable to both authorities,
the Central Hall Centre being taken over as from Ist April,
1938, and the St. George's Hall Centre as from Ist July, 1938.
With the exception of Salomon's Centre these were the only
" voluntary " centres remaining in the borough, and with that
exception the infant welfare centres are now all municipal.
The Council also decided during the year to establish a panel
of home helps and for this purpose framed a set of rules. The
number of cases in which such help has been provided is 59.
Under the auspices of the National Society of Day Nurseries
Park Shelters a shelter was opened in Southwark Park for five
weeks from July 21st. An average attendance of 69 children
was recorded and the Committee have watched the experiment
with great interest.
FAIRBY GRANGE CONVALESCENT HOME.
The total number of patients received into the home during
the year, including mothers, babies, and toddlers, was 482, a
slight increase on the figures for 1937.
Number of women admitted 226
Number of babies admitted 91
Number of toddlers admitted 165