View report page

7
''Mothers and Rabies Welfare" was taken over by the
Corporation in April, after having been started by voluntary
effort in July, 1915. The details of work in Centre are arranged
by the Voluntary Committee, and four ladies from this Committee
have been co-opted in the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee
of the Corporation, and attend regularly all monthly meetings.
Two Health Visitors divide between them the visiting in the
Borough, and attend the Centre meetings each Friday, as well as
Committee meetings. There is also an Attendant Lady Doctor at
Centre, and voluntary lady helpers.
The work is constant and hard for all those engaged.
Immense benefits are being derived by the women and children
and attendances at Centre tend to increase. Milk, dried milk,
Virol, etc., are supplied, sometimes free, and in many cases at
reduced prices. Mothers are also taught dressmaking for the
benefit of their babies, and general sanitary care of infants and
themselves.
There is no Maternity Hospital in Kingston at present, but
it is hoped to provide beds at the District Nursing Association
Home, where, for a fee of two or three guineas per week, mothers
can be received for confinements.
Kingston Day Nursery is invaluable in looking after
children while mothers are obliged to go to daily work. Medical
inspection of the Nursery is made regularly every week.
Illigitimate children with their mothers, if no friends or
relatives are at hand, can be admitted to a Hostel at Epsom
for a year, at the expense of the Corporation. Mothers are
trained to earn a living meanwhile in the Hostel, and partly
contribute to their maintenance.
Milk inspection in Kingston is carried out by the County
Council under the Food and Drugs Acts.