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9
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee have had under
consideration a scheme for extending the work and particulars of
the proposed extension were forwarded to the Ministry of Health on
April 9th, 1924, but as the Ministry would not approve any scheme
that involved building operations, a proposal to acquire No. 28,
Lower Clapton Road as a Centre for the Maternity and Child
Welfare work of the Borough was forwarded to the Ministry on
July 23rd, 1924.
The views of the Ministry having been ascertained in subsequent
correspondence, it was possible on February 20th, 1925, to forward
full financial particulars, plans, &c., to the Ministry for approval.
The Ministry, in a letter dated May 29th, 1925, have intimated
that a loan will be sanctioned for the purpose of meeting the cost of
alterations to No. 28, Lower Clapton Road on receipt of an estimate
based on tenders, and as this was the last matter remaining for
approval, it should be possible to commence work immediately. The
additional expenditure will not cause the total annual cost of the
Maternity and Child Welfare service to amount to a penny rate.
The measures approved include the provision of artificial light
treatment, dental, ante-natal and child welfare clinics, clerical, and
nursing assistance, but do not meet the full wishes of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee as regards nursing assistance.
The Committee wished to introduce a nursing scheme to supplement
the work of the Centres and Health Visitors, and the very low
figure of £400, an amount equal to that paid by the London County
Council for the part.time services of two nurses at Lower Clapton
Road School Clinic, was approved by the Committee. The Ministry,
however, or the financial officers concerned, have reduced this amount
to £150.
In taking this action the Ministry rely principally on a Circular
of August, 1918, M. & C. W. 4, a letter of the Ministry of May 31st,