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ADMINISTRATION OF INFANT CLINICS.
At each infant clinic a lady doctor is present, and in addition
to the two whole-time lady medical officers there are four parttime
lady doctors employed by the Borough Council. The
voluntary centres pay and employ their own medical officers who
are all part-time. At each municipal clinic it is the practice to
have three Health Visitors present to assist the doctor, to weigh
babies and to advise and teach mothers. Voluntary helpers give
assistance to the Health Visitor in most of the voluntary clinics.
Mothers are seen by appointment in all the municipal centres and
in several of the voluntary centres. The appointment system
works well. It avoids the necessity of a long wait on the part of
the mother, leads to an orderly working of the clinic, and enables
the doctor to plan her time effectively. Mothers with new
babies see the doctor by appointment on their first visit to the
clinic; subsequent consultations are arranged by the doctor, but
in case of need a mother can always see the doctor without special
appointment. Babies are weighed at every attendance and
mothers are seen by the Health Visitors, who emphasises, and
explains if necessary, the doctors' instructions. As often as
possible health talks are given at each clinic by the Health Visitors,
and these are supplemented by lantern or film lectures given in
the centre by members of the staff. A register of attendances is
kept at each centre, and consultation cards are provided for every
patient. When the child reaches the age of five, or previously
if the child goes to school, a summary of its health record is sent
to the school medical officer. Each mother has her own" baby
card" on which is recorded visit by visit the weight of the infant,
and the instructions of the doctor. Attached to each centre is a
"shop," at which the mother obtains the baby food or dried
milk which has been prescribed. With the exception of one or
two elementary medicines, no treatment is given and no drugs are
supplied at the centres. If a mother or baby is ill and requires
treatment, she is referred with a letter to her own doctor or to a
hospital, and there is close co-operation between the centres and
the hospitals.