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19
That the hospital authorities consider it necessary to call upon her to attend even
for some time before her confinement, probably has the effect of causing the mother
to regard the event as of some importance and to induce her to exercise some amount
of care.
But something more than this is necessary if the lesson is to be thoroughly
learned.
There must be much closer touch with the woman: she should be visited in her
own home, should be instructed and helped to understand how important is her health
to her offspring during the expectant period and how serious the results of neglect
may be to it after birth.
In St. Marylebone some attempt has been made mainly on the part of the
workers of the Health Society to carry out work somewhat on these lines by the
formation of a Provident Club for expectant mothers.
This operated mainly in South Marylebone, and was worked in connection with
the hospitals, Middlesex chiefly.
Lists of names and addresses of women who had applied to the hospital for
medical treatment to be provided at the time of confinement, were supplied and visits
were paid to the homes and an attempt made to induce the expectant mothers to
make preparations against the arrival of the baby.
This club met with considerable success, but since the coming into operation of
the Insurance Act and the provision of the Maternity Benefit there has been some
dropping off.
This is unfortunate, as it cannot be doubted but that good was done as a result
of the visitations of the health workers.
The practice of obtaining names and addresses is still continued, however, and
will be extended, and no opportunity of getting into touch with expectant mothers
will be lost.
This is all part of the educational work which is done in connection with the
prevention of infantile mortality in the Borough, to which very full reference has
been made in previous reports.
In 1913 there was no lessening of the activity in carrying it out.
The three Women Inspectors and Health Visitors of the Council, Miss Baker,
Miss Johnson and Miss Stokes, gave a great part of their time to baby work, visiting
homes after receipt of notifications of births, advising mothers as to the feeding and
care of infants, and on hygiene generally.
The St. Marylebone Health Society, through its workers and its Schools for
Mothers and Infant Consultations, continued to give the Council a vast amount of
assistance also.