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94
Review of Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme.
Towards the end of the year under review, the National
League for Health, Maternity and Child Welfare, which is a
voluntary Society engaged in connection with Maternity and
Child Welfare work throughout the Country, sent out a questionnaire
in connection with the activities of local authorities during
the twenty-five years from 1901—1925 with a view to ascertaining,
if possible, whether any particular forms of child welfare
work had had more influence than others on the reduction of
infantile mortality during this particular period.
The Council will, of course, be familiar with the many
activities which now comprise the Council's Maternity and Child
Welfare Scheme, and from a perusal of my reports during these
twenty-five years it is possible to obtain interesting records of
the manner in which the present Maternity and Child Welfare
Scheme has gradually come into being.
Shortly after my appointment twenty-five years ago, I was
greatly impressed by the very high infantile mortality rate in
certain parts of the Borough, and in my 1902 report, the appointment
of Health Visitors, to combat this high infantile
mortality rate, was urged. No definite steps in this connection
were, however, taken until 1909 when the "Notification of Births
Act" was adopted, and three consultation centres were opened in
the Borough under the control of a voluntary society which was
formed for the purpose.
The activities of the Health Society were, however,
handicapped by the difficulty to obtain suitable voluntary visitors
and during the year 1911, the Health Society disbanded and the
Council's first Health Visitor (part time) was engaged. In the
following year further health visiting was carried out by the
Woman Sanitary Inspector.
In 1915 arrangements were made for the distribution of
dried milk, etc., and a voluntary Centre was taken over by the
Council.
In 1916 an extra Health Visitor was appointed, and I was
able to report that the centres were increasing in popularity.
Further Centres were opened in 1917, and in 1918 there
were three Health Visitors on the permanent staff. From this
date onwards, rapid extension of the Council's Maternity and
Child Welfare Scheme was witnessed.
Arrangements were made for dental work, and in 1920 the
staff of Health Visitors was increased to seven and a Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee formed. In 1921 the Council's