[Report 1927] / Medical Officer of Health, Cambridgeshire County Council.

  • Cambridgeshire (England). County Council
Date:
1927
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1927] / Medical Officer of Health, Cambridgeshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/58 (page 10)
    First visits to infants showed a reduction from 1041 in 1026 to 929; the smaller number of births has to be kept in mind. In spite of the smaller number of expectant mothers the number to whom first visits wei'e paid increased from 560 to 582. Although rather fewer total visits were paid the proportion of expectant mothers coming under supervision and advice increased from 49.4 per cent, in 1926 to 54.7 per cent, in 1927, calculated on births in all social classes. The proportion in the working classes thus assisted must therefore be much higher. The Health Visitors undertake for the Poor Law Guardians the home visitation of children who are )-eceived by foster parents for payment, and therefore come within the provisions of the Children Act. Fifty-three children were supervised in this way during the year. The County Council do not directly administer Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, but give financial assistance to voluntary centres established in the larger villages which are in need of such support. There are now 6 centres at work, a new one having started during the year at Histon, and a fresh centre is contemplated at Fordham. Grants were made to three of these Centres by the County Council. The assistance given by home-helps to women during confinement in the management of their domestic affairs is undoubtedly of value as relieving them of anxiety during a trying period, but it is difficult to get women to undertake this work. The County Council pay an annual retaining fee and part of the I’emuneration in necessitous cases. Altogether, 13 mothers obtained the services of the home- helps during the year. The ])Osition as regards the Maternity Hospital question is referred to under General Provision of Health Services, dhe Council have no such institution, but pay the maintenance charges for confinement of necessitous women