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108
are in old and unsuitable buildings. The same can be said of many of the medical
inspection rooms in the schools, and of the treatment centres. An additional school
treatment centre was opened in Fulham during the year, and the Council's plans
include improved premises for several of the welfare centres in the Division in the
near future.
In the borough of Chelsea the Council's maternity and child welfare work is
efficiently carried out by the voluntary committee of the Violet Melchett Infant
Welfare Centre, and co-operation between this centre and the divisional organisation
is excellent. In the other three boroughs importance is attached to the
development of a team spirit among the maternity and child welfare medical officers.
At their periodical conferences matters of medical and administrative interest are
discussed, and advances made in one area are followed in the others. By this means
the progress of " levelling-up " the difference in the three boroughs has been continued,
and doctors are encouraged to keep up-to-date in their teaching.
Attendances of mothers and children at welfare centres have been satisfactory,
and special sessions for the routine examination of toddlers have been introduced
throughout the Division.
The great demand for admission to day nurseries continues, and there is always
a long waiting-list. A few sporadic cases of poliomyelitis occurred in the nurseries
during the summer, but fortunately did not assume epidemic proportions. An
outbreak of Sonne dysentery in one nursery was quickly brought under control.
The day nurseries are supplemented to some extent by the registered child-minders,
but the greater cost of the latter service to the mothers is a deterrent.
The shortage of hospital and sanatorium beds has added considerably to the
work both of the district nurses and of the Council's home helps. The four district
nursing associations have carried out sterling work throughout the year. The home
help service is extremely popular and, although the provision has been increased
from the preceding year, the demand still exceeds the supply. A number of home
helps were successful in obtaining the diploma of the National Institute of
Houseworkers.
The medical work in the schools has progressed smoothly. An unfortunately
large number of children need to be referred for child-guidance treatment; it is
hoped that this state of affairs may improve as the war years recede and housing
becomes more adequate. One feels, however, that education of young people in
parentcraft will bring in useful dividends. It is satisfactory to record that this health
education, which should be the key-note of the personal health services, is being
carried out by the health visitors in the Division, and at several welfare centres
they have organised systematic courses of lectures in parentcraft. This work is of
very great importance, and it is hoped that neither shortage of staff nor any increase
in the health visitors' duties will be allowed to interfere with its expansion.
The successful functioning of the Council's organisation in the division depends
not only on the efficient execution of its own duties, but also on effective co-operation
with a wide range of other agencies, both public and private. This co-operation is a
continuous process, but I may mention two examples of joint work which were outside
the normal.
In February a meeting with officers of the Ministry of Food and voluntary
organisations was held in Kensington, at which Dr. Geoffrey Bourne gave an
address on the value of vitamin supplements. In March the Divisional staff
collaborated with officers of the Hammersmith Borough Council in the exhibition
in connection with Hammersmith Civic Week (see p. 79).
In conclusion, I would thank the borough medical officers of health for their
invariable and helpful co-operation, and would like to pay a tribute to the Council's
staff in the Division, who have carried out their work with loyalty and efficiency
during the year.