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125
Conclusions.
A. Health Visiting.
Estimated No. of children between the ages of 1 and
5 years
8,312
Deduct—No. attending centres
1,337
No. attending school
1,734
3,071
Number to be considered
5,241
At the present time with the existing staff of health visitors
it is only found possible to visit each house twice during the second
year and once during the third and fourth years of the life of each
child.
During epidemics this arrangement is sometimes disorganised
owing to the pressure of other work.
During 1935, 8,050 visits were paid to children between the
ages of 1 and 5 years. This is roughly 1 visit each year per child.
If these cases are to be visited 3 times per year—8,312 X 3
visits = 24,936 are to be paid.
During 1935, 29,604 home visits were paid by all the health
visitors for all purposes.
It is, therefore, apparent that if these children are to be
visited 3 times every year there is ample need for the employment
of additional health visitors.
I would suggest that the Health Committee should consider
recommending the Council to appoint 2 new health visitors.
B. Toddlers' Clinics.
In his circular, the Minister calls attention to toddlers' consultation
sessions at infant welfare centres. At present, toddlers
are seen at the ordinary welfare centres.
I suggest, as an experiment, that a toddlers' consultation
session should be held for one session per week at the Southlands
Centre.
All children, other than those attending Nursery Schools,
should be invited to attend for a thorough medical examination
on or about their 2nd, 3rd and 4th birthdays.
Any child requiring treatment for any defect or disease
discovered at the examination is to be referred to his private doctor
or appropriate clinic or hospital.
It will be necessary to approach the County Council for the
use of their school treatment centres for the treatment of defects
of the ears, eyes and skin.