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33
with all facilities for a rapid interchange between home and
hospital and with an Emergency Obstetric Service always on call,
her own home is a very safe and satisfactory place for a mother
to have her confinement.
In support of this assertion, the usual statistical details
are set out in the Appendices on pages 104 - 106.
Midwives Acts, 1902-51
The number of Midwives who notified their intention to practise
as midwives or maternity nurses, within the Borough (including
those in hospitals) and who were practising at the end
of the year was 72. All held the certificate of the Central Midwives'
Board. The Medical Supervisor of Midwives visits midwives
in private practice and nursing homes, and the Superintendent
Municipal Midwife carries out these duties for the domiciliary
midwives.
INFANT WELFARE CENTRES
Infant Welfare Centres
The usual details regarding attendances are given in the
Appendix, page 109. A subsidiary centre was opened to serve the
northern part of the New Addington Estate, but as no building
was available during the week, a Saturday morning session was
held. Attendances were small and by numbers alone continuation
would not have been justified. However, as the medical room of
a school building formed the main part of the clinic, running
costs were sufficiently low to allow the experiment to continue.
In the well established centres, emphasis was again on
group education and psychological development of the child as a
developing part of educational work, which is permitted by the
striking improvement in physical health.
Welfare Foods
The W. V. S. continued issues from their central office
throughout the week and on Saturday mornings, and supplies were
available at all Infant Welfare Centres while is session. Total
issues made during the year were:-
National Dried Milk 82,632
Cod Liver Oil 22,274
Vitamins A and D (for Expectant
Mothers) 13,169
Orange Juice 208,572