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33
Supply of Milk. Under the provisions of the Maternity and Child
Welfare Act, 1918, milk is supplied free to necessitous nursing and expectant
mothers and children under three years age. Owing to the reduction by the
Council in November, 1934, of the scale of income for the supply of milk free
or at less than cost-price, a very much larger number are now eligible. The
approximate cost to the Council of milk granted free of charge during 1934
was:—
Dried Milk £310 10s. Od.
Wet Milk 33 12s. 7d.
£344 2s. 7d.
A special sub-committee of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee meets
every week and considers any applications which are made. Milk is also
supplied at cost-price in cases recommended by the Medical Officers, Health
Visitors, or any local medical practitioner or hospital medical officer. During
1934, under this part of the scheme, 4,447 lbs. of dried milk were supplied at
a cost to the families of £389 10s. lOd. as compared with 6,085 lbs. at a cost
of £533 16s. 7d. during the previous year.
Maternal Mortality. The Maternal and Child Welfare department
investigates all cases in which women have died during pregnancy, at childbirth
or during the puerperium.
Fulham Babies' Hospital. The Fulham Babies' Hospital is situated at
23, Broomhouse Road and has accommodation for 21 children under the age
of five years. It is under the control of a Voluntary Committee who receive
a grant of £1,447 per annum from the Fulham Borough Council and also the
services of a Medical Officer.
The Hospital is ordinarily intended for cases of malnutrition and for
children requiring dietetic treatment. In the case of the larger hospitals,
calls on the accommodation are so great that there is often difficulty in keepings
dietetic cases long enough in hospital to complete the necessary course
of treatment. The Babies' Hospital supplies a much-felt need in this matter.
However, a considerable number of children suffering from bronchitis
and pneumonia are treated in the hospital, especially during the winter months;
in addition children are admitted for treatment after such operations as
removal of tonsils and adenoids and after circumcision. Advantage is taken
of the facilities for open-air treatment on the balcony whenever possible.
The close co-operation which exists between the Tuberculosis Dispensary
and the Babies' Hospital is a very material aid in the diagnosis of any doubtful
cases of incipient tuberculosis which we occasionally see at the Babies'
Hospital.
Infants are frequently admitted for test feeding and are kept for a
short period under observation while the mother attends at intervals of 3 or
4 hours as arranged during the day.