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85
The Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme.
In the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney there are two part-time Medical
Officers for the Municipal Centres, 11 Health Visitors, 1 General Clerk, 2
Centre Clerks, and 2 Milk Clerks. The Health Visitors made 27,405 visits
during the year. There are 6 Municipal Infant Welfare Centres and 10
Voluntary Centres, 1 Day Nursery School, 4 Day Nurseries. There are
8 Ante-natal Clinics, one of which is Municipal. In addition we have a
Dental Scheme for expectant and Nursing Mothers and for children up to
5 years of age. Convalescent treatment is arranged for a large number of
mothers and children every year. We also have a free milk scheme involving
an expenditure of over £3,000 per annum. Free dinners to ante-natal and
nursing mothers are arranged for through the Stepney Invalids' Kitchens.
Every baby born in the Borough is notified under the Notification of
Births Act, 1907. After the tenth day the Health Visitor sees the mother
and baby and gives her advice. She also tells the mother which centre she
should attend either voluntary or municipal, according to the district in which
she resides.
The whole of Stepney is divided into areas served by the Maternity
and Child Welfare Centres. Each centre only takes mothers from the area
which it serves. The municipal centres are non-sectarian. Of the 10
voluntary centres, 4 are Jewish. These Jewish Centres are organised, equipped
and maintained by the Voluntary Jewish Committees. The grant towards
half the annual expenditure of all voluntary centres is made to them by the
Borough Council under the Local Government Act, 1929— known as the
Block Grant.
Stepney is a district in which there are a great many voluntary organisations.
Some years ago, members of the Carnegie Trust visited Stepney with
a view to erecting a large centre for Maternity and Child Purposes, but on
investigation they found that Stepney was already so well equipped through
voluntary and municipal efforts that unfortunately for Stepney they changed
their minds and went to another borough, where they installed a model
building.
The numerous activities in the Borough make the task of arranging and
organising the work no easy one. However, after several years of continual
effort the whole scheme in Stepney has been arranged to the satisfaction
of the Ministry of Health. As far as possible overlapping is avoided and
each centre whether voluntary or municipal, does its best for the welfare of
the mother and child attending there.