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33
MATERNITY & CHILD WELFARE.
Although forms of Maternity and Child Welfare
activity had been carried on in the Borough for many
years previously, the work was not organised on a
really comprehensive scale until 1920, when the centres
and staff of a voluntary committee were transferred
to the Council. In 1922 a new permanent Welfare
Centre was provided in Cornwall Road (adjoining the
Public Library and Bethnal Green Estate, erected at
the same time). The hired centres elsewhere in the
Borough were closed, with the exception of one held
at a Mission Hall in the West Ward. At that time,
the work was largely restricted to the ordinary work
of a Welfare Centre: medical consultations for expectant
mothers and babies, also convalescent treatment and
milk grants.
Since 1922, various new branches of work have
been undertaken, mostly at or in connection with the
Cornwall Road Centre :
Commenced
Massage Sept, 1924
Special Clinic for Delicate Children June, 1925
Light treatment June, 1925
Dental treatment Sept., 1925
Orthopædic treatment Jan., 1928
Treatment of Enlarged Tonsils Feb., 1928
Home Helps and Maternity Outfits Mar., 1928
Inhalation May, 1930
Mothers' Clinic Oct., 1932
During this period, naturally the ordinary work
of the Centres has expanded. The Staff was increased
by a Borough Midwife in 1924 and a Health Visitor
and Clerk Dispenser in 1925, while in 1931, a full-time
Medical Officer was appointed to replace the services
of certain of the part-time medical officers at the
centres.