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35
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
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.
During the year 1937 the scope of the work of the Maternity and Child Welfare Department
was greatly extended.
A new Maternity Home and Child Welfare Clinic, to replace the original Maternity Home
at 706, Fulham Road, and to add to the clinic facilities of the Department, was opened in October
at 5 and 7, Parson's Green; and an additional assistant Medical Officer was appointed, to be resident
in the new institution.
In addition to the ante-natal and gynaecological clinics it was decided to deal systematically
with post-natal work in the borough; and clinic sessions for this purpose were started at Parson's
Green. At these sessions any mother in the borough is made welcome.
The investigation regarding the nutrition of expectant and nursing mothers, which was begun
in August, 1936, by Dr. Meyer-Wedell, continued throughout 1937. Dr. Meyer-Wedell gives nearly
three whole days in the week to voluntary work in the borough for purposes of this enquiry and the
results promise to be of great interest and value.
An extra weekly dental session was inaugurated at Parson's Green and already, by the end of
the year, more time has been found to be necessary.
HEALTH VISITORS
An addition of one Health Visitor was made to the Health Visiting staff in October. Miss
Beckett retired after eighteen years of Health Visiting services in the borough, and her successor
was appointed in June.
The opening of the new clinic at Parson's Green and additional sessions of various kinds which
have been inaugurated, have necessitated much more of the Health Visitors' time being devoted to
the work of the clinics. Figures show that an intensive drive has been made in connection with the
visitation of children between the ages of two and five years—approximately 2,000 more visits having
been made than in the previous year.
The wide extent of the knowledge and experience of the Health Visitors may again be mentioned.
All are fully trained nurses, holding the Certificate of the Central Midwives Board and the Health
Visitor's Certificate, representing years of study and practical work. In addition to these essential
qualifications, each one has specialised in one or other branch of nursing ; for instance, five are trained
Queen's Nurses; two are fever-trained; one has special training in venereal and tropical diseases ;
one is a trained actino-therapist, another has had special experience of massage ; and all have had
a wide experience of midwifery and the special diseases of women and children ; one has the Diploma
in Nursing. There can, therefore, be few conditions occurring in the family where scientific nursing
advice cannot be obtained from the Town Hall.
Advice is given on the general management of all children under five years of age, and where
there is an infant the importance of breast-feeding is stressed. Anything which may affect the wellbeing
of the home is a concern of the Health Visitor; and mothers are encouraged to place their
children under regular medical supervision, through the Welfare Centres or otherwise.
It should be remembered that a Health Visitor has no right of entry into any house, and much
depends upon her tactfulness as to whether or not her mothers keep their children under regular
medical supervision.
The whole department is controlled by the Maternity and Child Welfare provisions of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and a large proportion of the work of the Health Visitor is directly
dependent on Section 255, which makes compulsory the notification of every birth to the Medical
Officer of Health within thirty-six hours. The Health Visitor calls as soon as the period of attendance
by the doctor or midwife has ended.