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42
SECTION IV. MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
1.—GENERAL.
During the course of the year the Committee considered a
memorandum from the Ministry of Health on the subject of maternal
mortality, and give directions for a report on the subject. The
report, which is printed at the end of this section (page 49) dealt
with the Croydon maternal mortality, in comparison with that for
the metropolitan boroughs and for the country as a whole; set out
particulars as to the accommodation for maternity cases at present
available; enumerated proposals for better ante-natal care; for
the provision of more maternity beds; for the better control of the
high mortality among illegitimate infants; for the home nursing of
selected cases of certain diseases serious in their effects on mother
and child. Reference should be made to the report for further
details.
2.—ANTE-NATAL WORK.
(a) Ante-natal Clinic.
The Ante-natal Clinic, at 33, St. James' Road, Croydon, has
been held for three sessions in each week throughout the year.
During 1924, 500 expectant mothers made a total of 2,007 attendances,
each mother attending 4.0 times on an average. The
average weekly attendance at the clinic was 39.
Close co-operation has been maintained between the Clinic and
St. Mary's Hostel.
(b) Attendances of Expectant Mothers at Welfare Centres.
During the year, 509 expectant mothers received advice and
assistance at the various Welfare Centres, and made a total of
2,205 attendances.
(c) Home Visits to Expectant Mothers.
854 visits were paid to the homes of expectant mothers by
health visitors or medical officers.
(d) Feeding of Expectant Mothers.
In a considerable number of cases fresh or dried milk needed
on medical grounds during the last three months of pregnancy was
provided, at or below cost price, or free, according to the circumstances
of the family.