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7
SECTION B.
General Provision of Health Services for the Area.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.
WELFARE CENTRES.
In the last annual report reference was made to the taking over by the Borough
Council of the work previously undertaken by the South Islington Voluntary Welfare
Committee.
During the year under review the Voluntary Committee of the East Islington
Mothers' and Babies' Welfare Centre requested the Borough Council to take over
their work in that part of the Borough. The work of the East Islington Welfare
Centre therefore became the sole responsibility of the Borough Council from
September 1st 1946.
There are, therefore, now two Voluntary Welfare Centres and two Municipal
Welfare Centres in the Borough. Both the Voluntary Welfare Centre Committees
receive a grant from the Borough Council, and for the year ending March 31st, 1946
this was:—
North Islington Infant Welfare Centre and School
for Mothers
6-9, Manor Gardens, N.7. £4,000
West Islington Infant Welfare Centre,
42, Richmond Avenue, N.l. £1,000
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics.
These are combined clinics, and the following figures show that the number
of expectant mothers who attended the ante-natal clinics during the year was
nearly twice as many as during the previous year. Attendances increased so much
that it was necessary to hold five additional sessions each week. Attendances at
the ante-natal and post-natal clinics at the four Welfare Centres are set out
hereunder :—
North South East West Total
Number held weekly 7 (5) 3 (2) 3 (2) 3 (2) 16 (11)
Number of expectant
mothers who attended 1,661 (1,141) 1,081(499) 640(457) 643(421) 4,025(2,518)
Number who attended
post-natally 175 (196) 82 (33) 55 (73) 33 (24) 345 (326)
(Figures in brackets are for 1945.)
Child Welfare Clinics.
As might be expected from the increase in the number of births the children's
attendances at the Welfare Centres have also increased very considerabably over the
previous year. There has, however, been some falling off as compared with the
previous year in the number of toddlers who attended the Centres. This may be
due to increasing domestic difficulties, e.g. shopping, etc., but efforts are being
made which it is hoped will lead to an increase in the proportion of toddlers attending.
The total number of children who first attended at the Centres during the year
and who, on the date of their first attendances were:—