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1938] 30
During the year Dr. Creak continued her child guidance work for children under
five. (This work was terminated in 1939.) The Clinics were financed for one year
only by the Child Guidance Council, and it is very much regretted that the financial
position did not justify the expense of continuing them further, as, at the present
moment, very heavy expense has to be met. A serious subsidence of the house made
it necessary for structural alterations to be considered for 1939.
Further, it has been decided to start a Superannuation Fund for the staff as from
1st April, 1939.
During the year 1,192 hot dinners have been given to necessitous expectant and
nursing mothers, and they were often accompanied by the toddlers, who were given
476 dinners.
Interesting lectures have been given on the Common Difficulties in Child Management,
Home Nursing, Food Values, Dental Health, and cooking demonstrations have
been held. Holidays were arranged for 120 mothers and 309 children.
During the international crisis in September the London County Council had
made arrangements for the evacuation of all school children, but no plans were
announced in respect of children under the age of five. On the morning of Wednesday,
the 28th, however, the Centre received a notification from the London Federation of
Women's Institutes, asking for co-operation in their plans which were being carried
out at the request of the Home Office.
A scheme for visiting every family in the district was immediately organised.
All the staff worked at high pressure. Three extra Health Visitors were engaged, and
the College of Nursing very kindly sent three students. During the Wednesday and
Thursday 766 families were visited, and had the crisis not terminated, all arrangements
would have been completed by the Friday evening.
WEST ISLINGTON INFANT WELFARE CENTRE.
Centre : 42 & 44, Richmond Avenue, N.l.
Branch held at St. Luke's Mission Hall, Goodinge Road, N.7.
There has been a steady increase in the routine work of the Centre.
The work at the Branch Centre has increased greatly and the numbers in regular
attendance have become so large that, as a temporary experimental measure, a
morning session of weighings and advice by the Health Visitors has been started.
This has proved very popular with the mothers who bring their babies to be weighed
every week. These children are referred to the doctor periodically or when further
advice is necessary.
The Ultra Violet Light Treatment has been continued during the winter months
and combined with massage treatment on the same day. This has saved the mothers
the double journey and the results have been encouraging.
The free dinners for necessitous expectant and nursing mothers provided during
the year have been much appreciated and have resulted in a marked improvement in
health. Dinners are now provided also near the Branch Centre for the convenience
of the mothers living in that district.