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individually or collectively. Under the present system the
entire time of the two Health Visitors is taken up in marshalling
the parents, note taking and weighing babies, leaving no time
for any educational purposes.
Ante-natal Clinics.
The weekly Ante-natal Clinic in Dagenham \\ Ward was continued,
whilst the fortnightly Clinic in the Becontree Ward
opened in the latter part of 1927. was changed to a weekly
session The total number of new cases attending was 379,
being 21%. of the number of births roughly. Little use was
made of the Maternity Outfits available at cost price at the
Clinics, in spite of the Midwives and Doctors having been
circularised that they were obtainable. It was consequently
Beaded to provide these free or at half price to those whose
financial position justified such procedure.
In July the Ministry of Health approved of arrangements
being made with Queen Mary's Hospital and Oldchurch Hospital
the reception of cases referred from the Ante-natal
Clinics where necessary, on the grounds of complications of
pregnancy, anticipated complications of labour or unsuitability
of home circumstances. Many women continue to make their
own arrangements with various institutions in London.
Treatment.
Tonsils and Adenoids: Under the arrangement with Queen
Mary's Hospital, Stratford, for operative treatment of Tonsils
Adenoids 18 children were treated.
In June, 1928, the Ministry of Health approved of arrangements
by which those children who needed to remain in an
institution overnight, following the operation, should be dealt
with at Oldchurch Hospital, at a cost of 22s. for the four
nights, the grounds for retention being either the child's condition
necessitating such action, or unsuitability of the home
permises or nursing.
Orthopædic: In August the Ministry of Health approved of
arrangements for in-patient treatment of Orthopædic cases
at Balaam Street Hospital, Plaistow. Subsequently, however,
owing to an alteration in the policy of the hospital, these
arrangements fell through. At the same time sanction was
given for the Local Authority to incur expenditure to assist
in obtaining surgical appliances.
Ophthalmia: In November approval was received of the
arrangements by which cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum could