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Maternity and Child Welfare.
The work in connection with this section of the Public
Health Department has maintained its high standard of efficiency.
The record of attendances at the Centres and the
number of home visits paid, etc., are tabulated below. In
connection with the classes for Mothers at the Welfare
Centres, both classes entered for the Annual Mothercraft
Competitions held under the National League for Health
Maternity and Child Welfare, and Wandle Park Centre Was
grouped second, and Queen's Hall Centre grouped seventh
of the 85 competing centres from England and Wales. The
work of the Welfare Centres has a social side as well as a
strictly "welfare" function, and the thanks of the staff and of
the mothers are due to those ladies who so generously assisted
voluntarily with the work.
During the year the issue of free milk has been carried
on as in previous years, but the Committee felt that greater
control should be exercised over the purchase of food and
medicinal preparations at Welfare Rates. A scale of income
was drawn up within which purchases could be made, and
those whose incomes are over the scale are required to purchase
from local dealers. In this connection it should be
remembered that the Welfare Centres were primarily formed
to give mothers instruction in Mothercraft, more especially
with reference to the prevention of disease. Simple conditions
are remedied by altering diet or by other simple measures,
but no effort is made to treat established diseases. Such
eases are referred to the family doctors or to hospital, if
necessary.
In the same way the Centres do not exist for the issue of
food or medicinal preparations at reduced rates to mothers.
Such preparations should be purchased from local dealers
whenever possible, and it is only the exceptional cases that
should be permitted to purchase at the Centres. A certain
amount of latitude must be granted, however, for while the
mothers may be able to purchase dried milk from dealers,
the additional nourishment necessary in ailing eases may be
beyond their means. The Committee give careful consideration
to all cases and the recommendations of the Medical
Officer in special cases are always granted. The attendances
at the Centre have not been affected by the new arrangement
to any noticeable extent.
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