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In 1922 a third Municipal Infant Welfare Centre was opened ; the premises
in this case was a Church Hall at Meeting House Lane, Peckham. The Council
this appointed another Health Visitor for duty at this Centre.
A further extension of the Borough's Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme
took place in the same year, the Council agreeing to provide-
(a) convalescent treatment in special cases for mothers after confinement
and for some conditions in young children;
(b) payment of midwives fees for services rendered to necessitous mothers;
and
(c) the utilisation of the dental clinic at the Cobourg School for Mothers
for expectant and nursing mothers requiring dental treatment (including
the provision of dentures) referred for treatment by Clinic
Medical Officers at the Municipal Centres.
The outstanding event in the year 1923 was the provision, by arrangement
with the Camberwell Board of Guardians of a Municipal Maternity Ward of six
beds and a labour room equipped with all modern appliances at St. Giles' Hospital
, Brunswick Square. This accommodation was provided for patients whose
domestic circumstances were of a character that made it almost impossible for the
confinement to take place in their own homes and for patients who, for medical
reasons either during pregnancy or at the time of labour, it was desirable in the
patients' interest for them to be confined in hospital.
In 1924 arrangements were completed for people living in the north-eastern
part of the Borough to have similar nursing facilities for their children as were
provided for the remainder of the Borough.
At the end of 1925 anot h er Infant Welfare Centre was opened by the Authorities
of the Union of Girls Schools' Settlement at Amott Road, East Dulwich, the
Council contributing, as in other similar cases, an annual sum towards the
administration charges.
The agr eement which the Council had previously entered into with the
Camberwell Board of Guardians for the provision of a maternity ward in St. Giles'
Hospital was renewed in 1926. Under the new agreement the accommodation
was increased to two six-bed wards in view of the popularity of the Scheme and
to meet the increasing demand for institutional accommodation for patients conforming
to the qualifications for admission under this Scheme.
There were no noteworthy extensions of the Council's Maternity and Child
Welfare Scheme during the next six years ; nevertheless during these years
considerable energy was directed to the development of the existing services with
satisfactory results.
As a result of the Local Government Act, 1929, the Boards of Guardians
transferred to the London County Council as from the 1st April,
1930. The council, however were able to continue to reserve maternity beds in
St. Giles' Hospital for patients nominated by the Council for the next three years.
At the end of this period the Council were advised that as the further retention
of these wards would seriously hamper the L.C.C. in making the best use of the
Hospital, the agreement was terminated by arrangement on the 31st March, 1934.
In 1933 the functions relating to Infant Life Protection were transferred
from the London County Council to the Metropolitan Borough Councils under
the transfer of powers Order, 1933, made under Section 64 of the Local Government
Act, 1929.