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56
SECTION VII.—Maternity and Child Welfare.
The particular section of the activities of the Public
Health Department which is concerned with materniiy and child
welfare now occupies a very prominent position, and with the
influx of many hundreds of families to the London County
Council Estates at Bellingham and Downham, and the covering
of vacant building sites with houses built by private enterprise,
must necessarily increase to a considerable extent in the near
future. Your Council has been fully alive to the position, and
every endeavour has been made to meet the growing needs of
the situation. The employment of infant clinics and welfare
centres as a means of education is invaluable, and the extent to
which it is appreciated is evidenced by the increased attendances
at these institutions.
The Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics were
first established in 1918, and at that time were adequately housed
in a part of the Maternity Home premises at 41, Rushey Green.
The attendances, however, soon outgrew the accommodation, and
eventually it became necessary to take larger premises, and the
Wesleyan Hall in Rushey Green was hired for the four mornings
in the week on which the Infant and Maternity Clinic is held,
the Ante-Natal Clinic being retained at 41, Rushey Green.
The work of the voluntary Infant Welfare Centres has
also gradually increased, and in one instance, that of the Catford
School for Mothers, it was found that one afternoon each week
was insufficient, and accordingly a second afternoon session had
to be established. A Voluntary Centre was commenced on the
Bellingham Estate in 1923, and is now held on two afternoons
in each week.
Health Visitors.—Six whole-time Health Visitors are engaged
in maternity and child welfare work. Each is allotted a
particular district, and attends at the Voluntary Centre which is