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This Centre, controlled by a Voluntary Council with headquarters
in Wellington Street, adjoining the Town Hall, was completed in February,
1931, and formally opened by H.M. The Queen on 26th March, 1931.
The Violet Melchett Infant Welfare Centre maintains the Maternity
and Child Welfare services in the Borough and embodies the activities
of the Chelsea Health Society, the Chelsea Day Nursery and the Chelsea
Mothercraft Training Home.
The magnificent building, with the land on which it stands and a
considerable portion of its equipment, was a gift of the late Lord Melchett
as a memorial to Lady Melchett's life-long work for Infant Welfare.
Three members of the Public Health Committee of the Borough Council
and the Medical Officer of Health are members of the Executive Committee.
The Violet Melchett Infant Welfare Centre is supported by (1) voluntary
contributions (2) an endowment of £500 per annum generously provided
by Lady Melchett herself (3) financial grants from the Ministry of
Health and the Borough Council. A further source of income arises from
the fees paid by pupils and parents.
Under section 101 (6) of the Local Government Act, 1929, the Borough
Council made an annual contribution of £3,035 to the Violet Melchett
Infant Welfare Centre for services in respect of Maternity and Child
Welfare work for the financial year 1935-1936.
Reference will now be made to the activities of three organisations
included in the Violet Melchett Infant Welfare Centre.
(1) Chelsea Health Society.—Wellington Street, S.W. 3.
The accommodation provided includes a large central hall, with
surrounding consulting-rooms and dressing rooms. There is also a
perambulator store, an open-air court with a garden where children may
play while awaiting medical inspection, and ample office accommodation.
During the year five infant clinics were held weekly—four at Wellington
Street and one at 484, King's Road. At Wellington Street one antenatal
clinic was held weekly. Details of the work carried out by the
Society will be found on page 32 (Table No. 26).
The Medical and other staff are appointed by the Voluntary Committee.
Four part-time Medical Officers are employed—-Dr. Mary
Nelson, Dr. Muriel Radford, Dr. Kathleen Matthews and Dr. Margaret
Salmond. Three whole-time trained Health Visitors are also employed,
together with necessary clerical and domestic assistance. Much valuable
work is done by voluntary workers attached to the Society.
(2) Chelsea Day Nursery, Flood Street, S.W. 3.
The Chelsea Day Nursery provides accommodation for fifty children.
In addition to two large nurseries for infants and toddlers, there are bathrooms,
a kitchen and an enclosed garden for the children to play in.
The staff consists of an Hon. Medical Director, an Assistant Medical
Officer, a Matron, a Sister, a Staff Nurse, eight probationers, and five
London County Council Scholarship Students.