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15
INVALID CHILDREN'S AID ASSOCIATION,
BETHNAL GREEN BRANCH.
The Bethnal Green Branch of the Invalid
Children's Aid Association, which has offices at 36,
Barnet Grove, has furnished the following report of
its activities:—
In 1937 this branch of our Association continued its
work for the invalid and crippled children living in Bethnal
Green.
Such children, with hundreds of whom we are in constant
touch, are referred to us by doctors, hospitals, school care
committees and other societies in the district, and during
the past year our help was asked for 234 new cases, besides
100 applications on behalf of children already known to us.
Of these new cases brought to our notice, 21 were crippled,
16 were suffering from rheumatism and heart trouble, 47
from pneumonia and bronchitis or other chest troubles, 9
from infected or enlarged glands, 49 were anaemic or debilitated, and 21 were suffering from serious malnutrition.
In all, 136 children were sent away during the year for
varying periods of convalescence, for an average stay of over
seven weeks; 40 were supplied with surgical instruments,
and 26 with other forms of help; while regular visiting and
supervision was undertaken of a great many more, at the
request of hospitals, dispensaries, and L.C.C. After-Care
clinics.
As in previous years, the Public Health Department
of the Borough Council has helped us with the cost of convalescence or instruments ordered for children under 5,
and have now extended their help to include the provision
of spectacles. We should like to record once more our
thanks for their co-operation.
MATERNITY.
Public.
The Borough Council has two Maternity Clinics,
one at Cornwall Road, and one at St. Matthew's
Institute, Heretord Street, at which a variety of work
for maternal welfare is carried on. (For further
particulars see the section of this report dealing with
Maternity and Child Welfare).