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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.
No home help was necessary.
436 notifications of birth, made in accordance with the requirements of the Notification
of Births Act, were received. Of these, 50 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 293 visits were made as a consequence of notifications received, and also that 564
special visits were made in connection with infant welfare. Five visits were also made
in respect of cases coming within the scope of the Children Act, 1908, all in relation to nurse
children. Two verminous school children were notified under the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1904.
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 1931 the number was nil.
It may be of interest to note that, from 1900 to 1931 inclusive, only 15 maternal deaths
have occurred among City residents.
BIRTH CONTROL.
The question of birth control in relation to Maternity and Child Welfare work has been
the subject of frequent consideration by many local authorities, and the Minister of Health
has been requested from time to time to sanction proposals for the use of these centres for
giving advice on this subject in general. This sanction the Minister has been unable to give,
and has issued a memorandum which indicates that he does not consider that it is the function
of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres and Antenatal Clinics to give advice on birth control,
except in a very limited degree, such as where further pregnancy will be detrimental
to health.
Although local authorities have no general powers to establish birth control clinics as
such, the Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915, enables them to exercise powers for
the care of expectant mothers and nursing mothers, and it may properly be held that birth
control clinics can be provided for this limited class, but since there is an acute division of
public opinion on the subject, no departmental sanction is given for the establishment of
such clinics, except on condition that contraceptive advice will be given only in cases where
further pregnancy will be detrimental to health.
Local authorities also have power to provide clinics at which medical advice and treatment
will be available for women suffering from diseases peculiar to the sex, but here, again,
the Minister makes it clear that departmental sanction to such clinics would only be given
on condition that any advice on birth control would only be given to married women where
gynaecological or general health conditions suggest the necessity.