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41
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The Richmond Infants Health Association has existed since
1908 with Mrs. Gates as Honorary Superintendent, and a large
band of enthusiastic voluntary workers.
In 1919 the Town Council began to make a grant af £65 per
annum, and a Committee composed of members of the Council,
together with three co-opted lady members, deals with all matters
relating to Maternity and Child Welfare. For many years the
voluntary workers not only attended at the weekly meetings of the
Centre, but also visited the mothers and children in their homes,
now all home visiting is carried out by two Health Visitors (trained
nurses) employed by the Council.
The Centre was, up to recently, held once a week, on Thursday
afternoons, from 2.30—4 p.m. The members seeking medical
advice became so numerous that it was decided to have a Centre
on Monday afternoons also. The Medical Officer of Health and
the Health Visitors therefore attend on both of these days, and the
children are seen mainly for the purpose of giving advice re feeding,
etc. No treatment is carried out, as children requiring more than
the very simplest treatment are referred to the Royal Hospital,
Richmond. A special children's department has been set up there,
and the Council makes a grant of £30 per annum.
At the Centre also, the babies are weighed and mothers can
purchase Dried Milk, Virol, etc.
The voluntary workers under the direction of Mrs. Gates,
carry on what may be called the social side of the Centre on Thursday
afternoons.
Lectures and music are supplied, and conferences arranged for
the mothers, so that every week of the year there is something of
an educative nature about the Centre.
The Health Visitors attend at the Centre and assist generally
in weighing the babies, giving advice to the mothers, and giving
occasional courses of lectures.