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1937] 80
THE WORK OF THE FOUR VOLUNTARY WELFARE CENTRES.
Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics in Islington are conducted by the four
Voluntary Welfare Centres, North, South, East and West, with the assistance of
grants from the Council. Each Welfare Centre has a definite Islington area allocated
to it and appoints its own Medical Officers, Health Visitors, Clerical Staff, etc.,
subject to the general supervision of the Medical Officer of Health. Each Centre
has a considerable degree of autonomy which has permitted individual development.
The Centres are responsible for visiting in the homes of those attending.
The Borough Council are represented upon the respective Committees of the
four Welfare Centres by two members and the Assistant Medical Officer of Health,
and reciprocally the Welfare Centres are represented on the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee by a representative from each Centre.
Co-ordination between the Centres is effected through the Conjoint Committee
of the Islington Voluntary Welfare Centres on which the Borough Council is also
represented. Another body, the Islington Committee of Co-operation for the
Welfare of Mother and Child, consisting of representatives from the Centres, Borough
Council, General Practitioners, Midwives and Social Workers, forms a link with
interested lay bodies and persons.
The continued occurrence of cases of enteritis called for special enquiry and
investigation, and the opinion and report of a leading expert was obtained.
A further measure of co-ordination has been introduced during the past year
by the recommendation for the appointment of an Administrative Medical Officer
on the Council's staff, in connection with the Wards at the North and West
Islington Welfare Centres.