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22
At each of the centres a clinic is held once or twice weekly with
a woman Medical Officer in attendance, as shewn in the tables
on the two previous pages.
Each centre is under the supervision of a trained Health Visitor
and voluntary helpers assist in the work of the centres. The
voluntary centres are conducted on similar lines to those of the
municipal centres.
Mothercraft Classes.
Instruction in mothercraft has been given weekly at 5 centres
during the year, the average attendance being respectively:—
Southlands 8.1
Chatham Road 9.3
Plough Road 17.7
55 Mundella Road 15.6
Women's League of
Service(Southlands) 15.5
Exhibitions of the needlework carried out at the Southlands
and Chatham Road centres were given in December, 1935, and
January, 1936.
Voluntary Centres.
Battersea School for Mothers.—Since 1918 a portion of the
Nine Elms Ward has been served, for the purposes of Maternity
and Child Welfare, by the Society of this name from their centre
at 55 Mundella Road, and the Council made an annual contribution
towards the cost of the work.
In April, 1935, a letter was received from the Society
asking whether the Council would be prepared to take over the
Centre, and being of opinion that it was imperative that the work
should be continued, they decided to do so. The centre was therefore
transferred to the Council on the 25th June, the part-time appointment
of Dr. Saxton, who had previously acted as Medical Officer
of the clinic being confirmed by the Council, and the two health
visitors already employed (Miss Wilkie and Miss Flemons) being
taken into the Council's service.
The premises, already the property of the Council, were
brought into decorative repair and the appointment of the caretaker
continued.
It was estimated that the additional annual expenditure
devolving on the Council, after allowing for the discontinuance
of the grant formerly paid would be £288.
The work of the Centre both before and after the transfer is
summarised on page 21. The Fathers' Council continued to meet
after the transfer.
Women's League of Service.—The Battersea centre of this
League (formerly situated at 111 Bridge Road West) was established
in 1911, and was transferred to Southlands, Castle Street, in 1928.