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to me that in order to ensure that all toddlers receive adequate
medical supervision a considerable extension of the present scheme
is called for.
If the Council agree to such an extension the question arises
whether the work should be concentrated at a central clinic or
spread among the existing centres.
The advantages in having one central toddlers' clinic at
Southlands are :—
(1) Every case can be seen by the dental surgeon on the
first attendance at the clinic.
(2) No increased expense for rent of clinic.
The disadvantages are :—
(1) The distance from the outskirts of the Borough, e.g.,
the hardship to a mother who has a baby in addition
to the toddler.
(2) The previous Maternity and Child Welfare records
of the child (which are filed at the respective centres)
are not available to the doctor examining the case.
(3) Mothers are sometimes unwilling to bring their children
to a strange centre.
It appears to me that the problem can only be adequately
dealt with by holding a toddlers' clinic at each district Maternity
and Child Welfare centre. If this is done, it will be possible to
invite to the clinics—
(1) Toddlers at ages of 2, 3 and 4—by written invitation ;
(2) All toddlers over the age of 2 from the infant welfare
centres ;
and more time can then be devoted to the medical supervision
of infants at the welfare centres. Such a clinic should be held
weekly (for if it were held every two weeks, mothers would attend
on the wrong day).
An increased expenditure in rent or other charges would
be involved in the case of the Chatham Hall, Plough Road, All
Saints and Gideon Road Centres.
Based on the amounts now paid for these premises, I estimate
that an additional rent of £45 per annum would be required, while
additional cleaning, &c., necessary would probably cost £55 per
annum.
Medical Staff.—A doctor with especial experience in children's
diseases would be required for five sessions per week.
The minimum rate of remuneration for such an appointment
is one and a half guineas per session, involving an expenditure
of £400 per annum.