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homeless. Unmarried mothers, but not illegitimate infants, are received,
An expectant mother is retained until the confinement approaches.
Arrangements are then made for her admission to Hospital. If she is
subsequently re-admitted to the Hostel, the infant is settled with a foster
mother.
(c.) St. Theresa's Shelter, 43, Smith Street, Chelsea, is a Rescue
Home which provides accommodation for nine girls. Cases are detained
for some weeks until some suitable employment can be found. In the
case of an expectant mother, arrangements are made for her transfer
to an appropriate Home or Institution elsewhere in the Metropolis.
Homeless children in general are cared for by the Public Assistance
Committee.
AMBULANCE FACILITIES.
(a.) Infectious Cases.—Under the Public Health (London) Act,
persons in London suffering from certain notifiable diseases may be
conveyed without payment to a hospital of the London County Council.
The London County Council ambulances are also available, on payment,
for the conveyance of persons suffering from infectious disease to places
elsewhere in the metropolitan area.
(b.) Non-infectious and Accident Cases.—The efficient ambulance
service of the London County Council is available for cases of accident,
sudden illness and also for maternity cases. The ambulances of the
London County Council may also be utilized, on payment, for the removal
of non-infectious cases to hospitals or homes.
CLINICS AND TREATMENT CENTRES.
(a.) The Violet Melchett Infant Welfare Centre, Wellington
Street, S.W.3.—Chairman of Council : Violet, Lady Melchett, D.B.E.
Hon. Treasurer : Col. Sir Courtauld Thomson, K.B.E., C.B. Hon.
Secretary : Miss M. Bowden-Smith.
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 Her Majesty Queen Mary 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.