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15
In April, 1922, the Centre at Battersea Tabernacle was transferred
to All Saints Church Hall and in the following year an additional Centre
was opened at Chatham Hall.
Owing to the increase in the Maternity and Child Welfare and
other activities, it was proposed in 1924 to erect a health centre
on vacant land in Latchmere Road. The proposals were approved
and, in fact, the building had actually been commenced, when a suitable
building, Southlands, came on to the market and this was purchased
and adapted by the Council as the main Maternity and Child Welfare
Centre of the Borough and the Latchmere Baths Centre, Women's
League of Service, Dental Clinic, and the Tuberculosis Dispensary were
transferred thereto.
Adiphtheria immunisation clinic was established at Southlands
in 1927, with one session weekly, increased to two in 1930.
At the same time the Council instituted a Sunlight Clinic for the
treatment of expectant and nursing mothers and children under five
years of age, and also for patients suffering from tuberculosis.
To enable the Battersea School for mothers to continue to function
at Mundella Road Centre the Council in 1927 purchased the freehold
of the property and for financial reasons the Council took over this
Centre in April, 1935, which continued to function there until 1940,
When, owing to its destruction by enemy action, it was transferred
to St. George's Hall, and subsequently, in 1947, to Nine Elms Baths.
In 1928 an additional Centre to serve the needs of the residents
of Bolingbroke Ward was proposed and, after negotiation, a Centre
was opened at Gideon Road School in 1930.
In the same year an additional session weekly was held at Plough
Road Centre.
Ante-natal clinics were first established in 1921 at the Borough
Maternity Home, and at this clinic there was a special (V.D.) session.
Additional clinics were established in 1922 at All Saints' Hall,
Plough Road Baths and at Latchmere Baths (subsequently transferred
to Southlands), and in 1926 the number of sessions weekly at the
Battersea Maternity Hospital was increased to two.
The closing of the Battersea Maternity Hospital in 1939 caused
the transfer of one session to Southlands.
Owing to war conditions, the total number of sessions was reduced
from 4 to 3 in November, 1940, but in 1943, by the opening of an
ante-natal clinic at Gideon Road, this reduction was made good, and
in 1946 an additional ante-natal clinic was commenced at Chatham
Road Centre.
As in the case of ante-natal clinics, the Maternity Home first
housed the post-natal clinic, which was established in 1927. On the
closing of the home a gynaecological clinic was provided in February,
1939, at Southlands. This, too, was discontinued in 1940 owing to
war conditions, but was re-established at Gideon Road in 1944.