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25
Maternity and Child Welfare Work.
Fulham possesses a well organised system of centres
and institutions for the care and supervision of expectant
and nursing mothers and of infants and children under
live years of age. Speaking generally the work aims at
maintaining a high standard of health among the
maternal and child population, education on health
matters and the prevention of illness and mortality
among mothers and children. There are many agencies
for maternity and child welfare such as children's hospitals,
lying-in hospitals and special departments of
general hospitals and there is much co-operation and
interchange of information between the Maternity and
Child Welfare Department and these bodies. There is
also collaboration with the various Medical Officers
under the Guardians and with the London County Council,
who are the local supervisory authority over the
midwives and are responsible for the School Medical
Service. The continuity of Maternity and Child Welfare
work and that of the School Medical Service is important.
The fullest co-operation between medical practitioners
and the Maternity and Child Welfare centres of
Local Authorities has not yet been established. This is
the case even although the relations between the private
doctors and the Council's Officers are quite friendly. The
explanation is that the doctors are of opinion that there
is a possibility on account of the nature of the work that
the department may encroach on their sphere and that
patients may attend who can afford to pay for the services
of a private doctor. There is every reason both in
the public interest and in that of the doctors for a clear
understanding on the question.
In this Borough, for example, there are over 70
private doctors and the majority of their patients are
women and children; co-operation would be helpful to
all concerned.
The general practitioner is mainly concerned with
diagnosis and treatment, while the medical staff of Local
Authorities are chiefly occupied with preventive work.
Medical men, however, also advise regarding prevention.