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24
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
SERVICES.
The Council's existing Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme
can be summarised under the following headings :—
1. Maternity.
(a) Medical examination and supervision of pregnant women, and following
confinement, at ante-natal and post-natal Clinics held at Infant Welfare
Centres and at the L.C.C. St. Giles' and Dulwich Hospitals.
(b) The services of a Consultant at the request of a private medical practitioner
for any condition arising during pregnancy, parturition or during the
puerperium of patients confined at home.
(c) Home visits by Health Visitors to pregnant women.
(d) Payment of midwives' fees for confinements of necessitous persons in their
homes.
(e) Payment of compensation to midwives for loss of patients.
(f) Provision of sterilised maternity outfits.
(a) Provision of Home Helps.
(h) Provision of nursing assistance for mothers.
(i) Convalescent home treatment for expectant and nursing mothers.
(j) Provision of milk and dinners for necessitous mothers.
(k) Education on health matters.
(I) Investigation of maternal deaths and cases of puerperal fever and
puerperal pyrexia.
(m) Contribution towards the cost of institutional maintenance of unmarried
mothers.
2. Infants and Young Children.
(a) Notification of Births Act administration.
(b) The provision and maintenance of Infant Welfare Centres.
(c) Home Visits by Health Visitors to infants and young children.
(d) Convalescent home treatment for children.
(c) The supply of milk to children of necessitous parents.
(f) Provision of nursing assistance for patients suffering from certain
diseases.
(g) Treatment of minor ailments.
(h) Infant Life Protection.
During 1935 the Council had under consideration Ministry
of Health Circular 1433 and the Memorandum 156/M.C.W. which
contained suggestions for improving and developing the Maternity
Services of Local Authorities, and this Authority decided to extend
the existing midwifery services of the Borough by the promotion
of schemes for the provision of home helps; the supply of meals
to expectant and nursing mothers ; the issue of anti-streptococcic
serum and the provision of additional facilities for ante-natal and
post-natal examination including payment to midwives for loss of
patients recommended to enter hospitals for their confinements.