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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The arrangements for Maternity and Child Welfare passed
to the control of the London County Council on 5th July, 1948
under the provisions of the National Health Service Act, 1946,
and the following information relates only to that period of the
year during which this Council was responsible for these services.
Infant Welfare Centres and Health Visiting.
At the time of their transfer there were five municipal and
one voluntary association infant welfare centres operating in the
Borough. Endeavours had been made for some considerable
time to secure more suitable premises for the Municipal Centre
in the Dulwich area, situated at 114 Lordship Lane, and in the
early part of the year improved, though not ideal, accommodation
was obtained at the Dulwich Grove Congregational Church
Hall, Tell Grove.
At the end of June, 1948, there were ten health visitors
attached to the Infant Welfare Centres serving the Borough,
nine of whom were employed by the Council and one by the
Bird-in-Bush Voluntary Association. Continuous efforts were
made to increase the establishment of Health Visitors without
success.
The tables appearing on pages 21 and 22 show the
number of attendances at Infant Welfare Centres and the record
of Health Visitors' visits during the period 1st January to
4th June, 1948.
Child Life Protection.
The Municipal Health Visitors undertook the supervision
of foster mothers and children during the first half of the year
at the end of which time there were 16 foster children in the
care of 14 foster mothers in the Borough.