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28
MATERNITY & CHILD WELFARE.
The development of Public Health administration
has heen strikingly shown in the variety of activities
now carried on under the general description of
Maternity and Child Welfare work. From concern
with purely environmental conditions, the Public Health
service has found it necessary more and more to deal
with the individual, and the newer forms of work relate
to the most important and intimate phases of individual
well-being. At the beginning of the year certain new
branches of work came into operation and the Council
has now one of the most comprehensive Maternity and
Child Welfare services in London, as indeed is well
needed having regard to the housing conditions and the
economic position of the residents in the Borough.
The main features of the work consist in (a) in the
visitation of mothers and children in their homes by a
staff of ten Health Visitors, and (6) in the giving of
advice to mothers and children by a staff of part-time
lady doctors, assisted by Health Visitors, etc., at the
Welfare Centres. The Council's principal Maternity
and Child Welfare Centre is a well-equipped building,
at which, in addition to the usual clinics for general
advice with regard to maternal and child welfare, there
are also the following special branches of work
Special Clinic for Delicate Children, Light Treat—
ment, Dental Treatment, Orthopaedic Clinic, Massage.
A Children's Consultation Clinic is also conducted on
hired premises at Thornton Hall every week.
The Council employs a trained Midwife, who conducts
confinements in the district, also provides the
services of Home Helps to relieve women of domestic
work during confinement. A sterile maternity outfit
is obtainable free, at half-price, or at cost price, accord—
ing to the financial circumstances of the family.
Mothers recovering from confinement and ailing children
are sent away for convalescent treatment. In-patient