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38
Voluntary Visitors.
This year, as previously, the work of the Public Health Department in
regard to the lessening of infant mortality and all the clerical work consequent
upon the Notification of Births Act has been usefully supplemented
by means of a number of fully qualified women-workers (from the National
Health Society, Bedford College, the Royal Sanitary Institute, etc.,) who were
desirous of gaining practical experience in St. Pancras.
All those who applied to come, and who were deemed suitable, worked
enthusiastically and sympathetically; and when they left here to fulfil other
duties always expressed themselves most grateful for the kindness and help
they had received and the experience they had gained.
It seems, however, that the benefits received were mutual, as much good
work was done for the Public Health Department without involving any
expense.
Miss Muirhead and Miss Day, who had also worked here during the latter
part of 1908, left in the early part of 1009 to act as Sanitary Inspectors at
the City (temporary) and Yarmouth respectively.
Miss F. Anderson and Miss Houghton left in order to further qualify
themselves by examinations of the Sanitary Inspectors' Examination Board
and Central Midwives' Board respectively.
Miss Spong and Miss Allen went to take up duties in connection with the
Children's Act at Edmonton.
The Misses Edith and Mabel Rintoul, for personal reasons, did not wish to
continue Public Health Work; and Miss Petty was appointed at the St.
Pancras School for Mothers to carry out some original Cookery investigations
in the homes, and also to act as Assistant. Superintendent.
Mode of Visiting.
During the year 1909 babies were systematically visited at both an earlier
and a later age than had been done previously—earlier, because the Early
Notification of Birth gave us the necessary information much sooner than the
Registrar's Returns had done; and later, because, in accordance with the
request of the Home Office, a visit was paid to the infant on completion of the
twelfth month.
Though by the Notification of Births Act the birth was generally notified
within 36 hours, yet neither the voluntary visitors nor myself would visit a
mother until the baby was over 10 days old (by which time the Doctor or
Midwife would probably have discharged the case) unless we were specially
asked to do so by the Doctor or Midwife attending.
Number of Births, Visits, &c.
Total births (excluding still births) registerd (majority within two
months) 5237
Births (including still births*) notified, (majority within 30 hours) 3961
Still births notified, 135.