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By 1930 the provision of milk was in the form of dried milk, and
the total amount issued at less than cost price was 8,419 lbs. and 4,854 lbs.
of dried milk were sold at cost price to families to whom, in the opinion
of the Health Visitors, the ordinary retail price was prohibitive.
Under the Transfer of Powers (London) Order, 1933, certain functions
exerciseable by the London County Council were transfered to
Borough Councils in relation to infant life protection. These duties,
were the reception of notices given by persons who undertake
for reward the nursing and maintenance of infants, and the inspection
of premises by infant life protection visitors or other persons appointed
by the Council for that purpose : fixing the number of infants to be
kept in a dwelling in which any infant was reserved for reward and
applications to a court of justice for an order directing the removal of
an infant to a place of safety. Accordingly the officer who was carrying
out the work under the L.C.C. was transferred to this council in April
1933. At the end of the year there were 179 nurse-children on the
register, under the care of 127 foster-mothers.
A new Health Centre was opened by the Duchess of Kent at 410,
Lewisham High Street, on 7 May 1936. The centre was designed to
provide ample facilities for;
A dispensary.
An artificial sunlight clinic.
A "toddlers" room, a staff room, kitchen, store rooms etc.
Accommodation was also provided for a resident caretaker.
To summarise the maternity and child welfare services as they
were just prior to the second world war the following were the health
services for which the Borough Council was responsible:
I. The Municipal Maternity Home.
II. Clinics for Expectant Mothers.
III. Post-natal Clinics.
IV. Clinics for Mothers and Infants.
V. Artificial Sunlight Clinics.
VI. Toddler's Clinics.
VII. Dental Treatment.
VIII. Treatment for minor ailments including operative treatment
for Tonsils and Adenoids and Orthopaedic treatment.
IX. The provision of milk and drugs for necessitous mothers
and their infants.
X. The supply of Maternity Outfits.
XI. The provision of Home Helps for confinement cases.
XII. The services of a Consultant in cases of Puerperal Fever
and Pyrexia as well as difficult or complicated obstetric
cases.
XIII. Convalescent Home Treatment for Mothers and Children.
XIV. Home Visiting by Health Visitors.
XV. Nursing in the Home.
XVI. Infant Life Protection.
These services are closely linked up with the Voluntary Organisations
engaged in Infant Welfare work in the Borough.