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The Infant Welfare Centres are held in halls let to us by different
religious organisations. There are two exceptions, viz : the Goldsmiths'
Centre, held in a class-room at Goldsmiths' College, London University,
Lewisham High Road, and at the Princess Louise Centre, Hales Street.
Until 1922, the last-named Centre employed its own medical officer,
but during that year the Medical Officer of Health was allowed to
undertake the Thursday afternoon session. The doctor who had
officiated did the work well, but funds were not overflowing, hence the
change. This Centre is a voluntary one, except that the Council
provide two Health Visitors as well as the Medical Officer. In the
six Infant Welfare Centres there are voluntary workers whose services
are prized by the Council and officers.
It is, of course, realised that the value of a Centre depends largely
on the ability, conscientiousness and sympathy of the presiding doctor
(and of course the health visitors), and such centres should be within
fairly easy reach of the mothers; still it would be an asset if one fairly
central Centre could be specially built for the purpose, while retaining
the remaining five. The present accommodation is fair, and but once
the financial stringency of the times will admit of it, some advance
might be made on the lines indicated.
Until 1922, one Ante-Natal Centre was held in the morning at the
Napier Street Centre. A second session was opened on Wednesday
forenoons in view of the increasing numbers attending. Yet again a
third session had to be opened on Thursday mornings. The numbers
attending have now made it necessary to consider the question of a
fourth morning session. Dr. Hill attends from 10 a.m. until 1 or
1.30 p.m. In addition to the Ante-Natal examinations, any urgent
cases from any of the Infant Welfare Centres are seen on Wednesday
forenoon.
(Public Health Officers of the Local Authority, see facing page one.)
Professional Nursing in the Home.
(ia) General.
1. There is one nursing home in the Borough, situated in Tressillian
Road, Hilly Fields, Brockley, to which surgical and medical cases are
sent by medical practitioners. On emergency, a maternity case can
be admitted, but surgical and medical cases form the great bulk. Nurses
can be obtained from this home to visit at patients' own homes. No
definite statement can be made, but as Deptford is an industrial