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Analysis of Special Visits to Infants under Five Years of Age:—
Measles 188
Ophthalmia Neonatorum 21
Pneumonia 21
Epidemic Diarrhœa 80
Mumps 1
Whooping Cough 1
Discharging Eyes 1
In addition to their work in the homes, the Health Visitors systematically attend at the various
Centres during the medical sessions for the control and management of the clinics.
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION VISITOR
At the end of the year there were 85 foster-mothers with 116 children on the register. The
Infant Life Protection Visitor paid 1,602 visits to foster-mothers; and made 1,907 inspections of
children at such visits. In addition, 208 special visits were made and 175 visits were made to cases
of measles.
There is still an insufficiency of foster-mothers in the borough and this department would be
glad to hear of suitable candidates for approval as foster-mothers. There are more applications
for such service than can be met.
The duties of the Infant Life Protection Visitor are closely associated with those of the Health
Visitors, and foster-mothers are urged to bring their charges to the Infant Welfare Centres that
they may be under regular medical supervision.
Close co-operation is also maintained between the Infant Life Protection Visitor and the
School Authorities, as her duties relate to children between birth and the age of nine years. The
Visitor possesses the "right of entry " and may visit at night as well as by day, when necessary.
The Maternity and Child Welfare department also maintains touch with the National Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
MATERNITY HOME
For a long time it was apparent that the original Maternity Home in Fulham Road, opened
in 1919, did not meet the needs of the Borough and schemes for the erection of an institution on
more modern lines have been under consideration.
Infant welfare work at Melmoth Hall had always been done under difficulties, and it was
decided to replace this by an up-to-date health centre.
A site became available at Parsons Green, near a District Railway station and ' bus routes,
and of suitable extent—having an area of three-quarters of an acre and a frontage of ninety feet
to Parsons Green. This site was acquired by the Council, and plans were made to build a combined
Maternity Home and Health Centre which would deal with the work of this Department in all its
aspects—ante-natal, maternity, post-natal and infant welfare.
Under the inspiration of Councillor Mrs. Marsh, Chairman of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee, the new Maternity Home and Clinic has come into existence—arranged and equipped
in accordance with the most modern standards of efficiency—second to none, except in size, in this
country. It was opened on October 16th, 1937, in the presence of the Mayor, Alderman C. Lancaster,
J.P., by Sir Ewen Maclean, LL.D., D.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P., President of the British College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists.
An additional Assistant Medical Officer was added to the staff of the Department to be Resident
Medical Officer of the Maternity Home. The Matron of the old home and her staff were transferred
to the new institution and suitable additions were made to the nursing and domestic personnel.