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Conferences.—The Council were officially represented at the under-mentioned conferences dealing
with matters within the purview of the Public Health Department :—
Conference Delegates
Royal Sanitary Institute—Hastings, 28th April Alderman Capt. R. G. Whitney, M.B.E., J.P.,
to 1st May. and the Medical Officer of Health.
Sanitary Inspectors' Association—Morecambe, Mr. L. Pearson, Sanitary Inspector.
8th to 11th September.
Central Consultative Committee on the Welfare Councillor Herbert C. Garrard and Miss M. M.
of Old People—London, 19th June. Sharp, Sanitary Inspector.
National Smoke Abatement Society—Glasgow, Councillor Dr. H. K. Ashworth, T.D.
30th September to 2nd October.
Maternity and Child Welfare.—The National Baby Welfare Council awarded the Astor Silver Challenge
Shield to the Boroughs of St. Marylebone and St. Pancras for Coronation Year, 1953, in recognition
of the fact that both Boroughs were pioneers in maternity and child welfare work in this country.
The Citation accompanying the Award to St. Marylebone is in these terms :—
In 1906, what was believed to be the first infant welfare clinic in London was inaugurated,
in collaboration with the St. Marylebone Borough Council and the St. Marylebone Health Society,
by the late Dr. Eric Pritchard, a foremost paediatrician of his day, at the St. Marylebone General
Dispensary, 30, Marylebone Lane. At that time a woman inspector from the Public Health
Department visited a certain number of newly-born infants and reported that the mothers
" show a real anxiety to follow the advice given to them." In 1912, three specially trained women
inspectors devoted a considerable part of their time to what was then known as " baby work."
Side by side with home visitation, the St. Marylebone Health Society continued, from 1907, to
open centres—or schools of mothercraft as they were named—in parts of the Borough where
there appeared to be a need for them. Of the existence of the need there was no doubt, as with
the proposed establishment of ante-natal clinics in 1914, for example, it was found that of 46
women questioned, 14 only had been examined or seen by a doctor during pregnancy, and of
these 14,11 were first confinements. In 1919, after many changes of premises during the intervening
twelve years, there were five centres providing ante-natal, post-natal, and infant consultations
under medical supervision. Four other welfare centres, also maintained by voluntary organisations,
were established later at hospitals in the Borough. Thereafter there gradually came into being
modern welfare centres with a host of ancillary services, including dental treatment, diphtheria
immunisation, actinotherapy, massage, remedial exercises, chiropody and child guidance.
The National Baby Welfare Council recognises the pioneer work carried out in St. Marylebone
and presents to the Borough Council the Astor Challenge Shield.
(Signed) VERULAM,
June, 1953. Chairman.
The functions of the Borough Council as Maternity and Child Welfare Authority passed into the
hands of the London County Council on the 5th July, 1948, under the provisions of the National
Health Service Act, 1946.
It is of special interest to note that the St. Marylebone Health Society, a voluntary organisation
established nearly 50 years ago, though no longer concerned with the running of maternity and child
welfare centres and day nurseries, is still actively engaged in auxilliary services for the benefit of
mothers and young children in the Borough. During the summer of 1953 arrangements were made
for 41 families to have a holiday, the Society's funds bearing practically the whole of the cost.
Christmas parcels were sent to 55 families. The Chairman of the Society is Lady Brain, who has been
closely associated with its work for many years, and the Hon. Secretary, Councillor Miss L. B.
West Russell.
Care of Old People.—Five hundred and five old people (including thirty-nine married couples) were
visited by one of the women sanitary inspectors. The great majority were living alone and some
required constant observation. The domestic help service of the London County Council continued
to give valuable assistance to many aged inhabitants of the Borough.
Special Laundry Service.—Under the scheme for dealing with the bed linen and clothing of acutely
ill and incontinent old people, thirty-five new cases were dealt with during 1953, each being the
subject of a certificate by the Medical Officer of Health under section 122 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936. The work is carried out directly by the Council at the Public Health Department
laundry, No. 217, Lisson Grove, N.W.8. The service has now been in operation since February, 1950,
and continues to be greatly appreciated by all who are concerned with the nursing of the aged in