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7
During the year under review 18,055 home visits
were paid1 by our staff of Health Visitors. 2,767 were
initial visits in relation to birth notificatons ; 10,545 were
subsequent visits on the same account ; 1,201 visits were made
to the homes of children between two and five years ; investigations
into stillbirths, 24 ; home enquiries in relation to the
Milk Assistance Scheme, 1698 ; enquiries re measles, 628 ;
and further visits arc set out in Scction V. of the Report.
The various Voluntary Infant Welfare Centres in the
Borough have carried out valuable work during the year, the
attendances increasing considerably, so much so that it has
been necessary to encourage the formation of an additional Centrej
to cope with the work resulting from the influx of population
on to the Bellingham Estate.
The Council's Infant Clinic, which is held four mornings
a week at the Wesleyan Church Hall, has continued its useful
work, as evidenced by the large number of attendances.
The analysis of the cases seen at the Clinic are set out in the
body of the Report.
The Voluntary Centres arc mainly educational, and any
cases which require treatment are referred by those in charge
to the Council's Clinic.
During the year we have had the advantage of five
additional beds at the Maternity Home, bringing the total to
seventeen. The extension has proved of great value, although
even now a considerable number of applicants have to be
refused. The extension of the Home has, as was anticipated;,
reduced the cost of maintenance per patient. As a result of
this extension, a new home had to be found for the Council's
Infant and Maternity Clinics, the work of which had increased
considerably, and the use of the Wesleyan Church Hall in
Rushcy Green was secured for this purpose.
The Ante-Natal Clinic is still held at the Maternity Home
and the attendance at this has also greatly increased.