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37.
Report by the Medical Officer in charge of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Department (Miss
Ruby Thomson, M.B., CH.B., D.P.H.) on the work
of the Department.
The work of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Department during the year 1929 has been carried on
along lines similar to those described in previous reports;
but, during the latter part of the year, there has been in
progress a general preparation for important changes of
organisation and procedure following on the decision of
the Borough Council to take over entire control of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres from the Voluntary
Committee that has hitherto managed them. The
agreement that existed between the Council and the
Committee, under which the Council made an annual
grant of £500 (half of which was refunded by the
Ministry of Health) was to terminate on 31st March,
1930; and the Council decided to assume entire control,
as from 1st April, 1930. This action is in terms of the
provisions of the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918,
which authorises a local authority to make suitable
arrangements for the maintenance of the health of expectant
and nursing mothers, and of children up to the
age of 5 years.
In view of these changes, it may suitably be recalled
that Fulham was very early in the field after the passing
of the Act, for the carrying into effect of its provisions.
On the initiative and under the guidance of the
late Dr. J. C. Jackson, at that time Medical Officer of
Health, a well co-ordinated and complete scheme for
the preservation of infant and child life and health, and
for the oversight of the health of the expectant mother,
rapidly came into existence, and in the following year a
special Assistant Medical Officer of Health was appointed
to he in charge of this Department of the Public Health
activities. I assumed this duty in June, 1919.
Details of the various aspects of the work of the
Department will appear in the following pages, but a