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5. Provision of Home Helps.
The scheme for this provision was reviewed during the year. In
5 instances Home Helps were provided for a total period of 32 weeks.
The cost to the Council was £24 5s. 0d.
6. Convalescent Treatment.
Provision has been made for the accommodation of mothers and
children in certain recognised Convalescent Homes. During 1929,
however, no cases were sent away at the Council's expense.
7. Hospital In-patient Accommodation for Infants.
(a) Deptford Babies' Hospital, Albury Street. The Borough
Council's Scheme provides for the treatment of delicate and marasmic
infants in this hospital. The institution, as from the 1st April, 1930,
will be subject to inspection by an officer of the Borough Council.
During 1929 four infants were referred for treatment, the rate of
payment being 6s. 6d. per patient per day.
(b) St. Thomas' Babies' Hostel, Kennington. An arrangement
exists between the Council and this institution for the reception of
mothers and infants where difficulty in breast feeding is experienced.
During the year nine cases were sent, the rate of payment being 30s.
per week.
While the results of treatment at St. Thomas' Hostel are eminently
satisfactory, the distance from Deptford is a drawback to full use being
made of the facilities afforded. The importance of breast feeding as the
only way to give a baby a healthy start in life is too well known to
require stressing and, to meet, if only to a slight extent, the need of
mothers who cannot travel to Kennington or to the Cromwell House at
Highgate, "Test Feeds " are conducted at the Town Hall. During 1929,
288 "Test Feeds" were so undertaken. Obviously, this procedure is
necessarily limited and the need for a local Centre which could be used
as a Breast-feeding Clinic is manifest. In this connection, Dr. Hill
reports:—
"The most urgent need is for a suitable home for mothers who
are in difficulties with the feeding of young children. Unfortunately,
there is often a critical period when the baby is 3 or 4
weeks old, when trivial causes may seriously interfere with lactation
and mothers are often persuaded to start artificial