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Maternity Consultations.—Mr. Douglas H. MacLeod. F.R.C.S., continued to act as obstetric
consultant. Five requests for his services were received during the year.
Maternity Outfits.—Supplies of Maternity Outfits have been made available for confinement
at home of necessitous women. In some instances the total cost (4s. 6d.) has been repaid by the
recipient, but grants have been made in most cases by the appropriate Committee towards the cost.
Home Helps.—During the year Home Helps were provided in 64 cases, 46 being attended by
Casual Home Helps selected from the Council's panel and the remaining 18 by the Council's Full
Time Home Help who commenced duty on the 14th February. The services of an additional Full
Time Home Help were found to be advisable and she began work on the 28th December.
In addition, provision was made in three cases for carrying out the domestic washing of expectant
or recently confined mothers.
In every instance financial assistance was given towards the cost, each case being assessed on
its merits.
The duties of Home Helps are as follow:—
1. To act under the direct supervision of the Superintendent Health Visitor or her
Deputy.
2. To be at hand at the time of labour and confinement and at the onset of labour to
immediately summon the Doctor or Midwife ; to see that the patient's room is clean and everything
in readiness for the arrival of the Doctor or Midwife. The Home Help is not responsible
for the confinement itself, nor must she interfere in any way with the instructions of the Doctor
or Midwife.
3. After the confinement, to remove all soiled linen from the patient's room, and to care
for her generally, especially as regards cleanliness and food.
4. To see that the infant is properly fed and cared for, and, if possible, put to sleep in
a separate cot.
5. To wash and dry the labour clothes as soon as possible, and to keep the ordinary
clothes washed in the usual way; to get meals and tidy the house as the patient would, were
she not for the time laid aside.
6. To care for any other children there may be, and see that school children attend
punctually, and are clean and tidy.
7. Should the Home Help in any way come into contact with a case of infectious disease,
either in her own home, the home of the patient, or elsewhere, she must at once report the
matter to the Medical Officer of Health.
8. On the day following the confinement, the Home Help must notify the Medical Officer
of Health that she has commenced her duties.
9. Any conduct on the part of the Home Help which is contrary to the interests of the
person she is helping, may lead to her name being removed from the list of Home Helps, and
render her liable to forfeit the payment due to her.
Contraceptive Advice.—In 1934, the Council made arrangements with the North Kensington
Women's Welfare Centre for the giving of contraceptive advice to expectant and nursing mothers
who are married and who are already in attendance at a maternity and child welfare centre of the
Council, such advice to be given only in cases where another pregnancy would be detrimental to
health. The recommendations of the medical officers of the Centres are submitted to the appropriate
Sub-Committee and grants of the cost of the advice (10s.) are made. During the year 42 necessitous
women were referred to the Centre, but only 28 attended.
Councillors Lady Bonham Carter and Mrs. Pain were elected as the Council's representatives on
the Committee of the North Kensington Women's Welfare Centre.
X-ray Examinations.—Arrangements are in force with the Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary
for the use of their facilities for X-ray examinations of expectant mothers and of children attending
the Ante-natal and Welfare Centres. 9 examinations were made during the year, 4 being of expectant
mothers and 5 of children, the fee for the former cases being 15s. and for the latter 7s. 6d. per
patient.
Unmarried Mothers and Their Children.—With a view to securing closer supervision of
unmarried mothers in the early days of motherhood and, where desirable, affording facilities for
breast feeding of their infants, the co-operation of the Paddington and St. Marylebone Ladies
Association for Rescue and Preventive Work has been enlisted and the Council make grants to the
Association towards the cost of detaining in their Homes for varying periods such unmarried
mothers and their babies. There was no request for assistance during the year.