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Wards with cote for 12 babies suffering from disorders of digestion, etc.,
the artificial sunlight clinic for the northern portion of the Borough
and the Dental Clinic.
Approval was obtained during the year for the transfer of the
Christchurch Clinic, where accommodation was very poor, to other
premises, and the removal was effected in the early part of 1928.
These changes afford better accommodation for mothers and greatly
facilitate the work of the staff.
In the latter part of the year, it was reported to the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee that on account of the increasing number
of clinics it was impossible for the existing staff of Health Visitors to
devote sufficient time to "home visiting," which still remains a most
important part of their work.
The Committee therefore recommended the Council to make representations
to the Minister of Health for the appointment of two
additional Health Visitors.
In February, of this year, approval to appoint one additional Health
Visitor was received from the Minister of Health.
Proposed Maternity Beds.—The negotiations with the Poplar Board
of Guardians, for the provision in St. Andrew's Hospital of lying-in
accommodation for expectant mothers who are not in receipt of relief
and who are willing to contribute towards the cost according to their
means, which were commenced in 1926, continued during the year. At
the same time arose the question of extending the Council's ante natal
work to include the cases which were being dealt with by the Guardians
in connection with their Maternity Wards, at 86, High Street, Poplar.
Both of these questions were discussed at a joint meeting of members of
the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee and representatives of the
Poplar Board of Guardians; and later the Town Clerk, the Medical
Officer of Health, the Medical Superintendent of St. Andrew's Hospital,
and the Deputy Clerk to the Guardians had a conference and discussed
the details. Extracts from a report upon the proposed lying-in accommodation,
including a suggested agreement to be entered into with the
Guardians, which I submitted to the Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee in November, is given in appendix "B." This report was
adopted by the Council and submitted to the Minister of Health and
the Board of Guardians.