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28
Convalescent Homes.
During 1931, accommodation was provided for 15 mothers
and 14 children attending the various Maternity and Child Welfare
Clinics. Of these, 7 mothers and 8 children were sent to Littlestone-on-Sea
Convalescent Home, 6 mothers and 5 babies to the
Evelyn Convalescent Home, Upper Wargrave, and 2 mothers and
1 baby to two other homes. The cost incurred by the Council
amounted to £18 0s. 0d., the mothers contributing the balance of
£12 5s. Od.
Two other children attending the Council's Welfare Centres
were sent away for a period of convalescence through the agency of
the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
Midwives.
At the end of the year there were about 21 registered midwives
practising in the Borough, apart from those employed in the
Council's maternity services.
In addition to these private midwives and the District service
of the Council (vide page 42) the eastern portion of the Borough is
served by the district midwifery services of the General Lying-in
Hospital, York Road, and St. Thomas's Hospital.
The Ministry of Health, in a letter, dated 17th August, suggested
that the Council might consider the desirability of contributing
towards the fees in necessitous cases, of midwives practising
in the Borough when employed as such, and also towards
the fee of a midwife acting as maternity nurse in cases where a
woman engages a doctor for her confinement.
In view of the midwifery services already established by the
Council it was not considerered necessary to adopt the suggestion.
Nursing Facilities.
The Council have made arrangements with the South London
District Nursing Association of 109 Clapham Common North Side,
for the nursing of mothers and children under the powers contained
in the Maternity and Child Welfare Act of 1918, and also of patients
suffering from certain infectious illnesses. A payment of 8d. per
visit is made in respect of this service.
During 1931 the total number of attendances made by the
nurses of the District Nursing Association in connection with the
Council's Scheme was :—