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39
HEREFORD STREET INFANT CONSULTATIONS.
This year has seen the establishment of the two afternoon
sessions held weekly at this Centre. The majority of the
mothers have now formed the habit of attending at this branch
centre and attendances have been steady. As last year, a
large number of children have been transferred to Cornwall
Road temporarily in order to attend the Sunlight, Inhalation
or Breast-feeding Clinics or for Massage. Our figures for this
clinic are therefore definitely less than they would be if no
need arose for their transference.
It is satisfactory to note how gladly the mothers cooperate
with suggested treatment from this Centre. On the
whole they seem to be in even more difficult circumstances
than in other parts of the Borough and so their efforts are
particularly worthy of mention. The children themselves show
no marked physical difference from those attending Cornwall
Road but they are perhaps more self-reliant, go to school
earlier and show less evidence of nervous tension. It seems
to be true that once a family attends it continues to do so,
but in many cases mothers who work morning and evening
(as many do in this area) have little time to spare for attendances
at a centre.
During the year a wireless set was installed by the kindness
of Wired Wireless, Ltd. We have been visited by Health
Visitor students who are trained nurses doing their practical
work before their examination. It is pleasant to record our
thanks to the Rector of St. Matthew's and his staff for their
continued helpful co-operation in the arrangements of the
rooms in use, and to those Councillors who have been interested
in our work here.
TODDLERS' CLINIC.
At weekly intervals throughout the year children between
the ages of 2 and 5 years have been inspected. Letters of
invitation have been sent out inviting mothers to bring their
children for a general medical examination once a year. The
response has not been good but the average attendance is
rather better than last year, 6.5 as against 5.4.
Nearly twice the number of children Showing signs of
rickets were found, many of them slight but definite cases, and
enlarged glands of neck and enlarged tonsils occurred in
approximately the same proportion as last year. It is encouraging
to find that many fewer children were found going
late to bed, as a special effort had been made this year to ensure
adequate sleep for children attending the Centres.