View report page

11
INFANT WELFARE WORK.
No new work has been undertaken in connection with Infant Welfare Work, as it is
found that the needs of the City are amply fulfilled by the arrangements already in operation.
The small resident population of the City and the consequent few births enables a close
personal touch to be maintained between my staff and the City mothers.
The Infant Welfare Centre, administered by the Corporation at St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, has had a satisfactory attendance at the weekly Wednesday session, and supplies
of milk and dried milk, at cost price, under cost price, and free, according to circumstances,
have been provided in accordance with the practice which has been in operation for some
years. Cod Liver Oil Emulsion is also given where its administration appears to be advisable.
In one case home help was provided for 17 days.
411 notifications of birth, made in accordance with the requirements of the Notification
of Births Act, were received. Of these, 68 referred to City mothers, and the balance were
transferred to the appropriate authorities.
The Woman Inspector, who undertakes the work arising from these notifications, reports
that 323 visits were made as a consequence of notifications received, and also that 302
special visits were made in connection with infant welfare. Six visits were also made
in respect of cases coming within the scope of the Children Act, 1908, all in relation to nurse
children. No verminous school children were notified under the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1904.
CHILDREN UNDER SCHOOL AGE.
In the early part of the year, the Ministry of Health and the Board of Education addressed
a circular letter to Maternity and Child Welfare Authorities and Local Authorities,
directing attention to the opportunities which exist for supervising the health of children
up to five years of age, and urging local authorities to use the powers they already possess,
but which only some exercise. The small resident population in the City and the comparatively
large number of women beyond child-bearing age, together with the fact that during
1930 only 68 births have occurred amongst City mothers, indicates the care which should
be exercised before any broad scheme such as the establishment of day nurseries, etc., should
be embarked upon.
In the special City circumstances, it is a comparatively easy matter for your woman
sanitary inspector to maintain the intimate personal touch which has always been a factor
in the administration of Maternity and Child Welfare work in the City, and an extension
of the activity formerly displayed in connection with children up to two years of age,
to those between two and five is the direction in which I am of opinion development should
proceed.
No difficulty is ever experienced in obtaining such medical assistance as is necessary
by reason of the fact that the City is well served by St. Bartholomew's Hospital within its
area, and other large hospitals adjacent, to which any apparent needs of the children can
be referred.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
The investigation into maternal deaths which the Ministry of Health now require to
be conducted has not called for any particular organisation in my department. There
are very few deaths per annum among the City resident population, and the few maternal
deaths are investigated by me. In 1930 the number was one.
It may be of interest to note that, from 1900 to 1930 inclusive, only 15 maternal deaths
have occurred among City residents.