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11
An emergency obstetric unit is maintained by the London
County Council, and is available to doctors and midwives on
request. The object of the service, is to deal with acute
obstetric emergencies in connection with maternity cases which
could not be moved to hospital without undue risk. The unit
was utilised on six occasions during the year.
Grants amounting to £106 7s. 3d. were made to the Southwark
Diocesan Association towards the maintenance of unmarried
mothers in their institutions.
Eight families were supplied with milk under the Milk
(Mothers and Children) Order, 1918. The cost to the Council
was £3 3. Od.
The Ministry of Food Welfare (Foods) Schemes provide
that all children and expectant mothers holding a green ration
book, are entitled to receive one pint of liquid milk a day at
2d. a pint. They can also obtain the following vitamin foods:—
cod liver oil, orange juice, and vitamin tablets. The latter
are for expectant mothers only. This scheme is administered
by the Ministry of Food through the local food offices.
Eight children have been sent to Convalescent Homes at a
cost to the Council of £25 7s. 6d.
351 children under school age suffering from minor ailments
were referred to the London County Council for treatment.
The cost to the Borough Council for this service was
£83 15s. Od.
A clinic for artificial sunlight and massage for children
under five years of age when recommended by the Infant
Welfare Centres and hospitals, is held at the Municipal Buildings
on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m. During the year, 124
children were seen at the Clinic, and they made 1,630 attendances.
Each Health Visitor has been appointed Infant Life
Protection Visitor for her district, and carries out the duties
relating to child life protection, under Part XIII of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1936. At the end of the year there were
56 foster-mothers registered with the Council, and they had
charge of 90 children.
MATERNITY HOME
The Council's Maternity Home, which since the outbreak
of war, had been used as a First Aid Post, was re-opened for
the reception of patients on the 26th August, 1942. During
the year, 333 women were admitted. The average duration
of stay in the Home was 13.97 days. One death occurred due to
mitral stenosis.