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12
deal with Maternity and Child Welfare in this district. The report by
the Medical Officer drew attention to the number of deaths of infants
arising from diseases which are more or less preventible by administrative
control, and also dealt with the features of a complete scheme of
Maternity and Child Welfare and the portions of it considered most
immediately suitable for the district.
On account of the large number of mothers who are engaged in
occupations outside their homes, the question of the establishment of a
creche was included.
The Health Committee decided to recommend the Council to
adopt the following scheme: —
(a) Continuation of Health Visiting; (b) establishment of an
Infant Welfare Centre; (c) the establishment of a Creche (day); and
(d) the provision of hospital beds for treatment of certain conditions
among infants, especially severe digestive disorders.
The recommendations were unfortunately rejected by the Council
by a narrow majority, but on a further report by the Medical Officer in
September the question was again considered, and this time the Council
decided to open an Infant Consultation Centre in the Heath Road. The
scheme for this was duly approved by the Local Government Board,
and the Centre was ready for opening at the end of the year to which
this report refers.
The measures adopted are being attended with satisfactory results
as far as their limited scope permits, but it cannot be doubted that
further measures will be taken in the near future. Nothing at present
is being done to deal with or assist the expectant mother, firstly to
enable her to ascertain if her pregnancy is pursuing a normal course
and is likely to come to a satisfactory conclusion. Secondly, no
provision exists in the district, or even within reasonable easy reach
for the treatment of cases of pregnancy or labour presenting complications
and requiring special treatment other than that of a major
surgical character.
The supply of midwives is probably sufficient. During the year