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Convalescent Home Treatment.
The Council's Convalescent Home treatment scheme provides
for a stay in a convalescent home usually for a period of 28 days for
expectant and nursing mothers and children under five years of age.
A period of convalescent treatment plays an important part in
restoring the health of a mother or child recovering from a serious
illness or suffering from debility.
In the past, treatment for children was restricted to patients
recovering from specific illnesses. This part of the scheme was
amended during the year to enable children under five years of
age not attending school suffering from any medical condition,
to receive treatment on the certificate of a Clinic Medical Officer of
an Infant Welfare Centre or the Medical Officer of Health.
During the year the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee
approved treatment for 31 mothers and infants and 36 children
separately.
In 23 cases part of the cost of the treatment was recovered from
the patient.
Home Helps.
This Scheme, which provides for the services of Home Helps
at the homes of patients during pregnancy and/or childbirth,
normally for a period of two weeks, was extended during the year
to enable treatment to be given to expectant and nursing mothers
for such periods as the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee
may decide.
The number of applications received during 1937 for the
assistance of a home help at the time of confinement was 68. In 20
cases part of the cost of the service provided Was recovered from
the patient.
Home Nursing.
This service was also amended during the year and made available
for expectant and nursing mothers and children under five years
of age not attending school whose nursing is approved by the Medical
Officer of Health.
Previously, Nursing Associations with which the Council have
an arrangement to undertake such services at the request of private
medical practitioners, hospitals, and the Public Health Department,
received payment at the rate of 1s. per visit only in respect of the
nursing of mothers and children under five years suffering from specified
ailments such as measles, whooping cough, epidemic diarrhœa
and in respect of diseases notifiable under the Public Health Infectious
Diseases (London) Regulations, 1927.