View report page

33
At the four weekly Clinics held at the Health Centre, Lewisham,
and the two weekly Clinics held at the Downham Centre, necessitous
mothers can obtain supplies of Cod Liver Oil and Iron, Virol, etc.,
for themselves and their children for as little as 1d. per week.
Mothers who can afford to pay more may be asked to pay as much
as 6d. per week. This, however, is the maximum charge. No free
supplies of these preparations are distributed.
X.—Maternity Outfits.
During the year, 430 sterilised maternity outfits were supplied
to expectant mothers on the recommendation of a doctor or midwifp.
No charge was made for the outfit in 145 cases, 86 were issued
at half cost and 199 at cost price. The demand for these outfits
will, in future, probably decrease as the district midwifery is
absorbed by the municipal midwives, for the L.C.C. is providing
a free outfit for each of their booked cases.
XI.— Home Helps.
This service, in cases of confinement only, has increased to a
remarkable extent since it was first started in 1930. The need has
chiefly occurred on the new housing estates where expectant mothers
with one or more children find it impossible to leave their homes
for the confinement, have no familiar friend that would come in
and help at the time, nor sufficient money to pay for outside domestic
help. During the year, Home Helps were provided in 27 cases of
confinement and in only 5 instances were the applicants asked to
make any contribution to the cost. The fee paid to Home Helps was
£1 per week without food but at this rate suitable women have
been so difficult to find that an increase in the weekly wage is under
consideration.
Applications for Home Helps have to be made on the prescribed
forms and these are submitted to the Maternity and Child Welfare
Sub-Committee which decides whether the applicant is to pay anything
towards the cost. The Health Visitor of the district in which
the mother lives then calls on her and suggests one of the Home
Helps that is on the Council's rota. It is arranged for the mother