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52
undoubtedly be utilized with advantage as a Child
Welfare Centre in place of Thornton Hall, as well as
being used as a Breast-feeding Clinic, and possibly
also as a Day Nursery. Having regard to the difficulty
in securing such accommodation, these matters were
not pursued. It did, however, appear possible to
adopt several other methods for the promotion of
Maternal and Child Welfare which did not involve any
permanent addition of staff or accommodation, and
I therefore reported in favour of:—
(i.) The establishment of an Orthopaedic Clinic staffed
by a visiting Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sister, with provision
for in-patient treatment and the supply of apparatus
when necessary.
(ii.) Extension of the work of the Dental Clinic to cover the
administration of a general anaesthetic, and the provision of
artificial dentures.
(iii.) The provision of ultra-violet ray treatment, under a
special medical officer, as a prophylactic measure on a larger
scale than had been practicable heretofore.
(iv.) The provision of operative treatment for enlarged
tonsils, adenoids, and mastoid disease.
(v.) The establishment in connection with the Maternity
Clinic of a special session for mothers recovering from
confinement.
(vi.) The provision of Home Helps to relieve lying-in
mothers of their domestic work.
(vii.) The provision of Maternity Outfits for expectant
mothers.
In addition to the foregoing, a variety of smaller
improvements, such as the provision of compensation to
Midwives whose patients might be referred to hospital
by the Maternity Clinic Medical Officer, and the
improvement of the pram-shed and entrance at
Cornwall Road, were also recommended.
The Public Health Committee and the Council
adopted the suggestions, and most of them were under
the consideration of the Ministry of Health at the close
of the year. Since then, they have practically all been
put into operation, and will be the subject of more
detailed comment in the next Annual Report.