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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
There has been no change in the number of sessions
at the welfare centres, but the numbers attending have again
shown an increase over the previous year.
The voluntary workers have continued to give much
valuable service at the welfare centres which is greatly
appreciated by everyone concerned.
Infant Welfare Centres.
The attendances of children at the centres in 1938 were
18,904 as compared with 18,581 in 1937. Children under one
year of age made 10,449 attendances and children over one
year 8,455. The number of examinations made by the doctors
in attendance was 6,851. The average attendance per session
was 54.
The overcrowding at the centres at Essex Park and
the Congregational Hall, Nether Street, has been partially
relieved by the removal of the Hendon children to a centre
of their own which has been established at St. Barnabas
Hall.
Ante-Natal Clinic.
Four hundred and twenty women attended the antenatal
•clinic in 1938, as compared with 395 in 1937, and they
made 1,427 attendances.
The number of women attending represented 44.4% of
the total notified births.
Midwives Act, 1936.
The Local Supervising Authority is the County Council
but the Town Council act as their agents in the provision
of a domiciliary midwifery service in pursuance of the above
Act.
'Two Municipal Midwives were appointed by the Council
in October 1937, and they have rapidly established themselves.
During 1938 they attended 96 cases in the capacity
of midwife and 27 as maternity nurse. A number of letters
of appreciation of the services of these nurses have been
received from their patients.
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