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Convalescent Home Treatment for Expectant and Nursing Mothers.—
In June, 1931, the Council decided to make provision under their maternity and
child welfare scheme for the convalescent treatment of expectant and nursing mothers.
The scheme included payment of railway fares where necessary. It was resolved
also to recover some of the cost from patients after consideration of each case on
its merits. During the year five mothers were sent away.
Supply of Milk, etc., to Necessitous Mothers and Children.—Under the
provisions of the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918, milk, etc., is provided by
the Council for necessitous expectant and nursing mothers, and children under the
age of five years, under the conditions laid down in Circular 185, issued by the
Ministry of Health in March, 1921. The approximate cost of these services during
the year was as follows:—
Dried milk, £2,120 18s. 8d. Fresh milk, £3 6s. Od. Dinners, nil.
Collective Teaching of Expectant and Nursing Mothers.— A special class
in mothercraft is held every Tuesday afternoon at the Old Town Hall, Woolwich.
The object of this class is to demonstrate to mothers suitable articles of attire for
baby and to provide facilities for making them under expert supervision. The
number of attendances during the year was 266.
Blind Persons Act, 1920.— The Council, at the request of the London County
Council, have arranged that home visiting of blind children under five years of age
should be carried out by the Council's health visitors, and reports are furnished to the
County Council, as the occasion arises, when the home conditions are unsuitable for
blind children or it is advisable that the child should be admitted into a suitable
institution. During the year one case came to the knowledge of the department.
Widows', Orphans, and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925.—The
local authority may, in case of desertion of a child who is an orphan, administer the
payments on behalf of the child. No case under the provisions of this Act was dealt
with during the year.