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55
abreast of developments in paediatrics, and the hospital medical officers to watch the
growth and development of healthy children.
Institute
of
Child
Health
As outlined in my report for 1950, the Council is co-operating with the Institute
of Child Health in the erection of a model welfare centre in the neighbourhood of the
Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street. The Institute, which is part of
the British Postgraduate Medical Federation of the University of London, provides
educational and research facilities both preventive and curative in the field of child
health. Through the Institute, the Council has the opportunity of co-operating with
the University and with the hospital to secure for child health the prominent place
which it should have in the National Health Service. The proposed model welfare
centre will serve the purpose of teaching post-graduate students and conducting
research as well as meeting the needs of the neighbourhood. The capital expenses of
the scheme are being met by the Institute but the Council will contribute a 90 per
cent. grant on the approved expenditure on services proper to it as the local Health
Authority. The cost of teaching and research will fall on the institute. Negotiations
with the Institute Authorities and their architects have taken place during the year
with regard to the erection of the centre and my department has been given the
opportunity of commenting on the plans for the centre.
Dental care
Details of the priority services for expectant and nursing mothers and children
will be found on page 110 in the report of the Council's Chief Dental Officer.
Drugs, medicaments, welfare foods, etc.
Simple drugs, medicaments and vitamin products (supplied free of charge) and
welfare foods and nutrients (at fixed charges) subject to abatement, are available
at welfare centres and to a limited extent at day nurseries. The lists of drugs and
welfare foods are revised from time to time to keep abreast of modern medical
developments.
Ministry of Food national dried milk, concentrated orange juice, cod liver oil
compound and vitamin A and D tablets were also made available at the welfare
centres for the convenience of mothers attending.
Sunday cinema grants
The Council continued to receive contributions from Sunday cinema entertainments
out of which an allocation was made to each of the nine divisions for the purpose
of providing amenities for mothers and children attending maternity and child welfare
centres and day nurseries. The funds are administered by voluntary committees
set up in each division.
Marriage guidance
The Council agreed in principle to give financial aid over a period of five years
(commencing in April) to the London Marriage Guidance Council, the Catholic
Marriage Advisory Council and the Family Discussion Bureaux of the Family
Welfare Association, and made a grant to each of these three bodies for the year
ending March, 1952. In addition, the Council also authorised the London Marriage
Guidance Council to hold marriage guidance sessions in available accommodation in
a number of its maternity and child welfare premises.
Home visiting and after care on behalf on almoners
As a result of the negotiations with hospital authorities and the Institute of
Almoners, reported in 1950, a scheme was introduced whereby the Council undertook,
through its divisional organisation, to carry out home visiting and provide after care
for patients referred by hospital almoners. Under this scheme, the direct approach