London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of Westminster 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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achievements in this branch. Mothercraft is also taught at the Council's.
centres on principles similar to those which were first introduced by the
Society. The teaching of mothercraft consists of demonstrations in
everything connected with the culture of the young child : its requirements
in clothing and feeding, its daily habits and general nurture of mind and
body. Health talks are also given on these matters and on such others
as the prevention and treatment of childish ailments, the methods of
maintaining the purity of milk and its importance in infant dietary.
Classes were held once a week at the Council's centres and at those of the
Society. Figures are submitted of the attendances and of the work done
in the making of children's garments by the mothers.
Table II.—Mothercraft Classes.
| 1924 | Pimlico Road. | Bessboro' Street. | Rochester Row. | Greek Street and Mayfair. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of classes | 47 | 48 | 78 | 114 | 287 . |
| Total attendances | 622 | 912 | 1,712 | 1,387 | 4,633 |
| Average attendances | 13.2 | 19.0 | 21.9 | 12.1 | 16.2 |
| Number of expectant mothers | 19 | 49 | 63 | 32 | 163 |
| Number of attendances by expectant mothers | 108 | 307 | 677 | 230 | 1,322 |
| Number of other mothers ____ | 27 | 66 | 47 | 45 | 185 |
| Number of attendances by other mothers | 514 | 605 | 1,035 | 1,228 | 3,382 |
| Attendances of children in nurseries during classes | 241 | 920 | 699 | 454 | 2,314 |
Materials are purchased in quantity, and sold to the mothers at cost
price. The number of garments made at Pimlico Road were 182;
at Bessborough Street, 263 ; at Rochester Row, 1,140 ; and at Greek
Street and Mayfair, 1,090. In addition to those, many renovations
were carried out.
Midwifery Services.—Midwifery is practised in the City by doctors,
midwives, and by the in-patient and out-patient services provided by
the hospitals. The Council felt in 1919 that there was a lack of home
midwifery service for those who could not afford the attendance of private
midwives, and they appointed a midwife to attend necessitous cases
in the Victoria, Knightsbridge, and Hamlet "Wards. A fee, which varies
according to ability to pay, is assessed by the Maternity and Child Welfare
Commitee, and is payable to the Council for the midwife's services.
The Council's midwife, in addition to attending her own cases, is available
for assistance as maternity nurse in cases being attended by private
doctors, and also in those attended from the hospitals. The following
table shows a record of the midwife's work since 1921.