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APPENDIX.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH SUBMITTED
TO THE COUNCIL ON 29th DECEMBER, 1937.
Toddlers' Clinic.
In September, 1936, the Council decided to establish a special
weekly toddlers' clinic, to be held at " Southlands." The first
clinic was held on 3rd November, 1936.
I have pleasure, as instructed by the Committee, in submitting
a report on the work of this clinic from its commencement until
27th July, a period of nine months.
In my original report I suggested that children should be
invited to attend for a complete medical examination on or about
their 2nd, 3rd and 4th birthdays.
It was, however, thought advisable in the first place to limit
the invitations to the children at their third birthday, until it
was known what response would be made. An average attendance
of 8 to 10 per session is one which, in my opinion, is best suited
for this type of clinic, as it allows the doctor to make a thorough
investigation of each case ; and the average attendance has in
fact been 8.3 per session. Pending the submission of this report,
therefore, no attempt has been made to get children of other
ages to the clinic, as this would have meant an additional session.
Each child on its attendance is also examined by the Dental
Surgeon and appointments made for treatment at the Council's
dental clinic where necessary. Appointments are also made for
re-attendance at the dental clinic at intervals of 3 to 6 months,
in order that the earliest signs of dental caries or deformities may
be detected and treated.
The number of effective written invitations sent to mothers
to attend these clinics with their children during the period referred
to was 874, and 280 children (32 per cent.) attended for examination.
The following tables summarise the work done at the Clinic
since its commencement:—
Toddlers' Clinic, 3rd November, 1936, to 27th July, 1937,
inclusive.
(1) Invitations (net number, after deducting returns through post, &c.) 874
(2) Children who attended—
Invited 273
Not invited
Aged 2-3 4
„ 4-5 3
7
280