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Infant clinics in connection with the maternity departments of
Charing Cross, Westminster, St. George's, Middlesex, and the General
Lying-in Hospitals are held weekly in those institutions. They do not
come within the maternity and child welfare scheme of this Council, but
Westminster mothers whose confinements have been conducted within or
in connection with those hospitals may, if they so desire, attend with their
infants. Mention should also be made of the valuable work which is
being carried out at the Infants' Hospital, Vincent Square. Not only
does this institution exist for the treatment of infantile diseases, but its
influence as a centre for research and for the training of doctors and
infant welfare workers is becoming widely known and appreciated.
Nursing.—In 1917, under the powers conferred by the late Local
Government Board, the Council made arrangements with the three
District Nursing Associations which work in the City for the home nursing
of measles and ophthalmia neonatorum.
With the advent of the Maternity and Child Welfare Act of 1918, the
Council were of opinion that the agreements should be extended to cover
all diseases of children and this action was accordingly approved by the '
late Board in 1919, and has been in operation ever since.
The table submitted below shows the number of visits paid and the
nature of the conditions for which visits were made. The request for
a patient to be visited as a rule comes through the welfare centre on
the information of the health visitors. The rules of the nursing
associations, however, make it obligatory that a medical practitioner
must be in attendance on any case where their nursing services are
required, and so it is necessary that the medical officer of the centre
or medical practitioners in the district should authorise nursing visits. In
each case the requisition for nursing services requires to be sanctioned
by the Medical Officer of Health. There is no doubt that this provision
for home nursing has exercised an extremely beneficial effect in diminishing
the after-effects and dangers of certain illnesses—notably, measles
and ophthalmia. In cases where medical attendance at home cannot be
continued, the daily visit of the district nurse ensures that no neglect
can occur. She keeps in close touch with the welfare centre and reports
as to the progress of her cases, so that should the need arise for removal
to hospital this can be effected without delay.