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There is an increase in the attendances at the Municipal Centres
over those recorded for 1923, but the visits for the same period
are down by nearly 400.
During" 1923 the method of visiting and the keeping of records
was reviewed and reorganised, in order to secure a more systematic
visitation of the births in the area of the Centre, and more especially
the children not attending a Centre. Unfortunately, it is not possible
to show the improvement in the number of visits for 1924 as
was anticipated by the new system, as, owing to
of the Council's health visitors, the visiting work suffered; but with
a clean bill of health there is no reason to doubt that the change
will justify the claims made for its adoption.
With a view to obtaining co-ordination with the Voluntary
Centres a Conference was held on the' object of complete an
accurate records, and it is pleasing to record
outlined at the Conference has been put into operation at nearly
all the Voluntary Centres in the Borough.
Milk.
Grants of milk in accordance with the following conditions
provided by the Ministry of Health Circular No. 185 were
continued to be made to
(a) Nursing mothers,
(b) Expectant mothers in the last three months of
pregnancy, and
(c) Children up to 3 years of age, and exceptionally
to children between 3 and 5 years of age.
The quantity of milk to be supplied at less than cost price
must not ordinarily exceed one pint per day per person, but in
the case of infants between 3 months and 18 months in exceptional
cases l½ pints a day may be su pplied.
The approximate gross cost of the grants during the year
amounted to £4,700, representing the distribution of upwards of
1 000 lbs. of dried milk and 378,000 pints of milk.
Every individual application was carefully examined by the
Milk Applications Committee, and in cases where a doubt existed
regarding the applicant's statement of his earnings enquiries
were made before a grant was authorised. In two instances only
was it necessary to request the attendance of the applicant before
the Committee to offer an explanation of the conflicting information
relating to circumstances.
Convalescent Treatment.
The practice of sending approved cases for convalescent
treatment was continued, and during the period under review
11 children received treatment for one month, 1 for seven weeks,
1 for a term of nine weeks, and 2 mothers and infants for a period
of one month.