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24
It was found necessary in re-organising the work of the
Department to alter the days of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Clinics at Isleworth from Tuesday and Wednesday to Tuesday and
Friday. This resulted in a considerable drop in the attendance,
as Friday was not as popular a day as Wednesday, but the
attendances are steadily improving. In many ways the work can
be regarded as satisfactory and particularly so under the circumstances.
At the Council House the work has reached its limit of
expansion. Nothing further can be accomplished until adequate
accommodation can be provided. At Isleworth, the premises are
gloomy, inconvenient, smoky and difficult to ventilate. Since the
Upper Hall has been re-decorated, and constantly let, the noise
overhead caused by the necessary shifting of furniture in preparation
of entertainments, is an additional disturbing factor. In the
interests of national economy every endeavour is made to carry
on under the circumstances.
Ante-natal work is almost negligible at Hounslow and impossible
at Isleworth with the premises as they at present exist. There
is ample need for this work to be developed, as by careful
supervision of the mother during the latter months of pregnancy,
many tragedies to the family are avoided, and the welfare of
the child assured. There are not only the tragedies of loss of
life, but of the mother's impaired health, which results from an
unsatisfactory confinement, which are almost always accompanied
by continuous pain or discomfort, the existence of which often
entirely spoils the atmosphere of the home, in that the previously
healthy cheerful mother tends to become an irritable semi-invalid
on whom the cares of the family weigh unduly.
Negotiations are taking place with respect to premises which
would give much better facilities for the Maternity and Child
Welfare Work generally.
There are no facilities at present for the treatment of dental
defects in nursing and expectant mothers nor for any other
treatment for children under five years of age.
Home Help for Mothers.
The Home Help paid 180 visits during the year and her
work was found of considerable value.