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advised as to health troubles and the need of medical attention.
It is rare for the Health Visitors to be refused admission to the
homes, and this is the highest testimony to the tact and zeal with
which they carry out their work.
During the year under report it was arranged to open
clinics for children over a year old and under school age, which
are known as Toddlers' Clinics, and in this way to keep in touch
with the babies who are brought in the first instance to the
Welfare Centres. In this way one expects to prevent or alleviate
some of the disabling disorders of school life, such as enlarged
tonsils and adenoids, eye affections, including squint, effects of
rickets, and last, but by no means least, dental caries. This
intention has now been carried out. and the results will not be
available till next year.
There were three Municipal Infant Welfare Centres in the
Borough, but early in the year the Council decided to take over
the medical side of the Oxley Street Centre, and, at the time of
writing, the whole Centre has been transferred to the Borough.
The work there has been considerably extended. A new Welfare
Centre was opened in July, 1920, at the Manor Chapel, Roseberry
Street, and, at the end of the year, there were over 100 mothers
in regular attendance. This Centre was very badly needed in
this area, which is somewhat isolated from the other Centres.
The alterations at 98, Rotherhithe New Road, which was
taken over during the year under report, are now well underway,
and the offices of the Assistant Medical Officer of Health and
Health Visitors and the Dental Clinic have been transferred
there. The Infant Welfare Centre, which was carried on during
the year 1920 at the Lady Gomm Dispensary, has also been
transferred to this building. When finished it is thought that
this will be a model Centre, so far as the building is concerned.
A new Municipal Ante-natal Centre was begun in October,
1920, at the Lady Gomm Dispensary, and at the beginning of
the present year this has been transferred to 98. Rotherhithe New
Road, where it is held on the second and fourth Friday afternoons.
There were not many attendances at first, but they soon
averaged 16 a session, and a keen interest was shown in the