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101
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
There are in the Borough 8 Municipal Centres, 3 Voluntary and
3 partly Voluntary and partly Municipal, for the attendance of mothers
and children under 5 years of age. Sessions are also held for ante-natal
work amongst expectant mothers.
There is an assistant doctor to the Medical Officer of Health for
maternity work, and three part-time doctors attached to other centres.
There is also a Superintendent Health Visiter and 9 Health Visitors.
Ante-natal sessions are held every week at two Municipal Centres,
and the same is also done at the Maternity Centre of Guy's Hospital.
The Ante-natal work at the centres is steadily growing and is of
great importance, as timely advice is given to expectant mothers as to
their own health, the preparations for the coming confinement, and the
care of the newly-born infant.
This work will greatly expand in future, and special sessions will
have to be set aside for it.
Hitherto it has been taken as part of the ordinary work of the
centres which has limited its scope both as regards the number of
patients and the time given to their instruction.
An arrangement was entered into between the Borough Council and
the Invalid Children's Aid Association, by which the Council undertook
part payment for children under 5 years of age sent to Convalescent
Homes by the Invalid Childrens' Aid Association, and 67 children were
thus assisted to have the necessary treatment and fresh air to restore
them to health.
During the year 7 children were treated for dietetic diseases at St.
Thomas's Hostel, under the arrangement entered into with them.
Five children were referred to the Guardians for convalescence.
Fifty-seven mothers and babies were sent away for holiday from the
Mayor's Fund.
Several cases were referred to the Southwark Invalid Kitchens
Society for dinners.