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Sterile Maternity Outfits.—A supply of these outfits which
contain sterile dressings, etc., is kept at the Welfare Centres for
sale at cost price (5s. l0d. or free issue to necessitous cases).
Compensation Fee to Midwife.—During the year the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee authorised the payment of a fee of
30s. to a local midwife in compensation for the loss of a midwifery
case who was referred to a hospital for special treatment and supervision
by the Council's Ante-Natal Officer.
Home Helps.—a Home Help is a person competent to do
domestic work who goes into a home to do house work and cooking
and to take care of the children, when the mother is laid aside by a
confinement.
It must be understood that a Home Help does not perform the
duties of a District Nurse or Midwife; and that her duties are limited
to domestic work and have nothing to do with the birth of the child.
A scheme for providing Home Helps was inaugurated in 1931.
The payment to be made was fixed at five shillings for an eighthour
day, exclusive of food, and the Home Helps on the panel are
under the supervision of the Medical Officer and the Health Visitors.
During the year eight women of approved character were retained
on the panel, and their services were called upon on seven
occasions at a cost to the Council of £19.
Award of Merit Certificates.—The Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee authorised the award of Merit Certificates to
those mothers who had shown skill in mothercraft during the year,
and in July the Mayoress (Mrs. A. C. Cann) visited the Barton
House Welfare Centre and presented the certificates to the successful
mothers. Unfortunately, it was not possible, as in former years, to
hold the usual garden parties owing to the fact that expenditure by
the Borough Council in respect of such functions was no longer
permitted.
PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE FACILITIES OFFERED
AT THE MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE CENTRES
At the December meeting of the Council it was reported that the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee had had under consideration
the observations of the Medical Officer of Health contained in a
report which emphasised the necessity for additional accommodation
and medical staff in order to cope efficiently with the growing demand
upon the maternity and child welfare organisation of the Council.
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