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66
There is no class for expectant mothers. They come to the Centre,
but no separate record of their attendance is kept, as most of the work
in connection with them is individual and different in each case, and is
most effectively carried out in the home visits.
The Weighing Centre and Infant Consultations.—The babies are
weighed every Monday afternoon at the Parish Room, Bedford Street,
and Dr. Brook sees the children every alternate week.
Number of children who attended during the year 93
Average attendance at the Centre 18
Total attendances do. 794
Number of times the Centre was open 45
It should also be noted that the babies born in York Road Hospital
and in St. Thomas's Hospital, numbering 61, attend the weekly consultations
held there, so that from this district 154 babies are regularly
taken to be weighed, in addition to the 93 mentioned above, and are
visited in their homes in the usual way from this Centre, the Hospital
Clinic reporting to Walworth.
Lectures.—Two courses, each of ten lectures, have been given on
"Infant Care" and "The Care of Mothers and Children." Though the
numbers were not large—27 and 23—the attendance was regular and the
interest keen.
Sanitary defects in the homes of mothers with babies have been
reported to the Medical Officer of Health, and have always received
attention. In this way much ill-health has been prevented, particularly
in ante-natal cases. There has been no case of puerperal fever.
The Local Government Board have granted half the expenses
incurred by the Centre during the year, and the Committee propose to
engage an Assistant Health Visitor in order that every home in St.
John's and St. Mary's Ward in which a birth is notified may be visited.