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Maternity & Child Welfare. Great progress was made
in this important subject, and following the passing of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Act, a Statutory Committee of the
Council has been formed.
The Council Maternity Home was opened on the 20th
July, 1918, and during the year 21 cases were admitted for
confinement. As might be expected the Home did not fill up
at once and required a little time to become known. At the
time of writing any doubt as to the need of the Home has been
removed and it has proved a great success.
The Home includes two adjoining houses at Nos. 130 and
132, Cranbrook Road. There are 9 rooms, each with a single bed
and 3 or 4 more beds can be put up in case of need. It will not
be possible to give at present a detailed account of the Home and
its scope and possibilities will be more apparent after a years
experience of its working.
Work of the Health Visitors:-
Number of first visits paid 1,042
Number of subsequent visits paid to
infants under 12 months 6,239
Number of visits paid to children
between the ages of one and five
years 5,383
Two Health-Visitors were engaged in the work during the year.
The Welfare Centres continued to be well
attended:-
Number of first attendances of children 430
Number of subsequent attendances 3,469
Dental treatment was provided for those expectant and
nursing mothers who would accept it. The dentist attended on
two or three half days a month.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
Medical Officer of Health.
7th June, 1919.