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63
SECTION VII.- MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The statistics regarding biiths and deaths of infants will be found on
pages 8 and 16 of this report. The maternal death rate is dealt with
on page 69.
General Arrangements. The Borough Council's scheme for Maternity
and Child Welfare includes the following activities:—
(a) The issue of pamphlets giving advice on various matters concerning
the welfare of mothers and infants.
(b) The co-ordination of the work of the voluntary Maternity and
Child Welfare agencies in the Borough.
(c) The home visitation of expectant and nursing mothers and
infants by a staff of Health Visitors who work (a) from the Town Hall,
and (b) from the Centres of the Chelsea Health Society.
(d) The subsidisation of the Chelsea Health Society's Maternity and
Child Welfare Centres and Clinics for ailing mothers, infants and
young children.
(e) The subsidisation of the local branch of the Invalid Children's Aid
Association.
(f) The subsidisation of the voluntary Day Nursery in the Borough.
(g) The subsidisation of the Chelsea District Nursing Association for
the home nursing of expectant and nursing mothers and young children.
(h) The provision of Home Helps.
(i) The provision of midwifery attendance, free or at reduced rates,
for necessitous Chelsea women.
(j) The provision of Convalescent Home accommodation for nursing
mothers and infants.
(k) The supply of milk, free or at reduced rates, for necessitous
nursing and expectant mothers, infants and young children.
(l) The administration of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory
Pensions Act, 1925, in respect of deserted, abandoned or
neglected children.
HEALTH VISITORS.
Duties. The duties allotted to the Health Visitors are as follows:
1. To visit the homes of all newly-born children amongst the working
classes within 21 days after birth, and subsequently as circumstances
dictate.
2. To visit the homes and make investigations in regard to stillbirths
and infant deaths.
3. To visit and give advice to parents in cases of ophthalmia, zymotic
enteritis and other diseases causing deaths amongst infants.
4. To visit and report upon all cases of puerperal fever.
5. To investigate, when required, homes in which overcrowding is
alleged to exist.