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I would recommend that a definite total sum be set apart each year—say
£250—and that this be distributed in proportion to the work done. I would
recommend that no notice be taken whatsoever of Barking patients attending for
ordinary out-patient treatment, but that hospitals who apply for a donation be
invited to supply, not necessarily exact, but approximate, details of the number of
in-patients treated, of the number of bed-days these patients have been in hospital,
and of the number of out-patients in whose case a report has been sent from the
consultant to the general practitioner attending the patient. I believe this
information could be abstracted, if absolute accuracy were not insisted upon, in a
few minutes from the records of any hospital. "
2. MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.
The work in connection with Maternity and Child Welfare is carried on under
powers given in the following Acts :—
Notification of Births Act, 1907.
Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915.
Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918.
Part 1 of the Children Act, 1908, as amended by Part V of the Children and
Young Persons Act, 1932.
Four Health Visitors are also School Nurses. With the object of obtaining
continuity of service every endeavour is made to see that Doctors and such Health
Visitors who are School Nurses, who attend at certain clinics, continue the supervision
of children under their charge when they become of school age.
During 1934 the Central Clinic was opened, and in the new building the
Clinics, formerly held in the East Street Centre, run smoothly and are growing in
size.
The other Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics are held at the Alexandra,
Shaftesbury and Greatfields (Infant Welfare only) Centres.
During the year the setting up of a new centre in the north-eastern part of the
Borough has been under consideration and next year I shall be reporting that
Infant Welfare and Ante-Natal Clinics are being held at the Methodist Church,
Porters Avenue. I look forward to the time when clinic premises will be erected
in this northern area similar to those being built in the southern section of the
Becontree Estate.
In connection with the Welfare Clinics, the help given by the ladies of the
Barking Infant Welfare Society is much appreciated and gratefully acknowledged.