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95
The arrangements with chemists for the dispensing of prescriptions
on terms similar to those under the National Insurance
Act. have been continued.
Since September 1926, the general administration of the Department
has been altered and the Medical Officer of Health took
aver the whole of the Maternity and Child Welfare work; the
Assistant Medical Officer devoting herself mostly to Schools.
The original Clinic at Hounslow was held in the Council House.
Accommodation was particularly unsatisfactory as far as the waiting
room was concerned. The new premises in Douglas Road are
entirely satisfactory in every way giving ample accommodation for
waiting, consulting room, demonstration room, kitchens and
lavatories complete. There is only one drawback, and that is, that
with the very large attendances that are now practically continuous
week by week there is not sufficient accommodation for the number
of perambulators. The average attendance which has risen from
35.6 in 1924 to 72 in 1926, is not entirely due to the new premises.
There is a large influx of new mothers owing to the rapid growth
of the District. Towards the end of the year the work became
over-loaded, on many occasions the attendance reaching over 100,
which means that a correspondingly large number had to be seen by
the Medical Officer. This with a scarcity of helpers gave no time
whatever for demonstrations and health talks by the Nurses.
Arrangements had been made for a Sewing Class, but unfortunately
our volunteer demonstrator developed Encephalitis, and we were
unable to get further before the end of the year.
We are getting in a new class of mother owing to the enormous
expansion of the District, due largely to houses built under the
Housing Acts with loans from the Council.
These people with their financial restrictions owing to the
purchase of their house are not in a position to spend money any
more than those of the humbler classes. In fact with some of them
financial stringency is considerably greater than those who have
less appearance to keep up.