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17 [1934
WORK OF THE FOUR VOLUNTARY WELFARE CENTRES.
(Compiled by the Secretaries.)
The four Voluntary Islington Welfare Centres (North, South, East and West)
have carried out a large amount of work during the past year, and the Voluntary
Committees that govern these Centres have expressed their great appreciation of
the encouragement, co-operation and financial support that has been given to them
by the Islington Borough Council.
The Grants from the Borough Council to the four Centres cover about half
their expenditure and the Centres have to raise the remaining half by means of
subscriptions, donations, grants from cinemas and entertainments, etc.
The work of the Centres is carried out by a staff of doctors and nurses (and in
some instances by a clerical staff) aided by a large band of voluntary helpers.
The Committee work in close co.operation with:—
The Medical Officer of Health for Islington, and the staff of the Health
Department, with each other by means of a Conjoint Committee, the Islington
Committee of Co.operation for the Welfare of Mother and Child, doctors, hospitals,
midwives, the Child Guidance Clinic, the North London District Nursing Association,
the Women's Holiday Fund, the Charity Organization Society, schools, day
nurseries, churches, missions, Invalid Children's Aid Association, all other agencies
working for the health of little children.
The principle that actuates every department of the work carried out at the
Centres is the establishment of health and the prevention of disease, damage and
death by the education of the mother, before the birth of her child and until it
reaches school age.
The method adopted by the Centres to carry out their objective is to establish
clinics for mothers before and after their babies are born and for children from
infancy until school age.
The mothers are given medical advice as to the best methods of maintaining
themselves and their children in good health. This advice is endorsed and amplified
by the Centres' nurses.
Cases of illness are referred to family doctors or to hospitals. When necessity
arises both mothers and children are referred to certain consultative clinics at
hospitals or to specialists.
The health records of the children are passed on to the School Medical Officer
of the London County Council for his information.
The mothers have opportunities at the Centres of seeing suitable clothes for
the children and of being taught how to make them. Many health talks are given
and mothercraft classes on various subjects are provided.
Nurses visit the mothers in their homes, to help them to carry out the doctor's
directions. These visits give opportunities for getting into close and intimate
touch with the mothers, and thereby help them to overcome individual difficulties.
A mother needing advice between consultations may consult the Superintendent
any morning. She can also be shown how to do simple dressings and to carry
out test feeds.