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4
As the result of enemy action during the winter of 1940-41
Park House Health Centre sustained very severe damage, involving
the total demolition of the waiting hall, dispensary, kitchen and
store. Since that time it has been damaged on more than one
occasion; but the lack of the premises totally destroyed in the
original London 'blitz' interferes seriously with the normal
activity of the Centre. As the attendances at the Centre are now
greater than before the war, mothers and children are subjected
to considerable discomfort and congestion due to having to wait
in overcrowded passages not intended for the purpose.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The Council's medical and nursing services have been carried
on all through the war years, and the figures shown in the appropriate
section of the report give some indication of the extent to
which they are taken advantage of by women and children in the
Borough.
Towards the end of the year under review, owing to a sharp
rise in the birth rate, it became evident that maternity bed accommodation
throughout the country was not available for all women
who desired to have their confinements in institutions; and, in
accordance with the suggestion of the Ministry of Health, it has
been necessary to apply a somewhat rigid selection of cases for
admission to hospital.
The war has given rise to many new problems affecting the
daily life and health of the expectant and nursing mother—
shortage of housing accommodation for young married couples,
lack of domestic help, shortage of maternity beds, etc.; and much
of the time of health visitors and midwives is now devoted to
dealing with anxious enquiries to which—in so many cases—no
satisfactory answer can be given, and in trying to solve problems
which are well-nigh insoluble.
No addition had been made to the Council's staff of health
visitors since August, 1930; and, as it was becoming increasingly
difficult to carry out the necessary home visiting of infants and
young children, an additional health visitor was appointed in
August, 1945.
One of the municipal midwives was unable to practise for
eight months due to the existence of a persistent throat infection.