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The Dispensary Resident Medieal Officer also made 332 home visits to sick children
under five.
The Medical Officer of the above-mentioned Special Clinic is paid by the Borough
Council. He is assisted by a Nurse (half-time), who is paid from voluntary funds. During the
year the Nurse made 984 visits to the homes of children under five. The other work of the
Dispensary amongst women and young children is supported by funds from voluntary sources,
and is also subsidised by the Ministry of Health.
Convalescent Home Treatment.
(a) The Mayoress of St. Pancras Home for Sick Poor Children.—This is situated
at "Avalon," 1, St. Alban's Road, and accommodates 18 children. The Borough Council
make an annual grant of £350.
The cases admitted are children from 2 to 5 years of age who are either convalescent
after illness, or who are weakly, badly nourished, ctc., and need good food, fresh air and
special care. At the beginning of the year 14 children were in residence, and during the year
104 were admitted. ll8 were discharged after an average stay in the Home of 32¾ days;
of this number, 57 were in good health, 45 were much improved; 16 showed no marked
improvement; but owing to the occurrence of infectious disease, several of these were discharged
earlier than would otherwise have been the case. The chief conditions for which the children
were admitted included—General debility, antcmia, convalescence after measles, bronchitis,
pneumonia, etc.
(b) Children requiring a longer period of convalescence than can be obtained at
"Avalon" are sent to various homes by the Invalid Children's Aid Association, and a contribution
to the cost is made by the Borough Council. Under this scheme 16 children were sent away
during the year.
Supply of Milk to Mothers, and Children under School Age.
The Council continued during 1926 to make grants of milk, either free or at halfprice,
for the use of nursing and expectant mothers, and children under school age. As a
rule the grants were restricted to the last three months of pregnancy, and to children under
three years of age.