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ping on their own. The nominal charge is abated when necessary,
and no charge is made to any mother who uses the service when
attending hospital.
Rehabilitation of Mothers
On occasions mothers become anxious about breast feeding
difficulties or are confronted with infant dietetic troubles. In
suitable cases arrangements can be made for mothers of young
children to be sent (with or without their children) to a recuperative centre for a residential course in mothercraft. For these purposes
the Council makes use of the Violet Melchett Mothercraft
Unit and the normal period of training ranges from four to six
weeks. A weekly charge is made according to the financial circumstances of the parents.
The services of this organisation were not made use of during
the current year.
Mothers' Clubs, etc.
These Clubs continue in five of the Council's health clinics.
There were 52 sessions during 1971 at which 596 mothers met
for discussion and talks by experts in a variety of skills which are
useful to mothers.
. There were also 47 meetings of sewing clubs which attracted
677 mothers.
Four other such clubs called "Home Advice Groups", two of
which were held in Borough welfare clinics, were organised by
the Greenwich Council of Social Service.
Recuperative Holidays
Previously provided under Sections 22 and 28 of the National
Health Service Act, these holidays are for those needing to maintain
or regain positive health and are frequently vital adjuvants
to medical treatment obtained in hospital or from family doctors.
They are of value in cases of both physical or mental illness and
can frequently prevent serious breakdown in those suffering from
environmental stress.
Today, although the new Social Services Act places general
responsibility for these functions in the hands of the Borough's
Directorate of Social Services, in the case of unaccompanied
school children the holidays are arranged and the cost born by the
I.L.E.A. School children accompanied by parents are still subvented by the Education Authority but the holidays are organised
by the Borough's Social Services department.