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247
Report of Miss Hall, Health Visitor.
Public Health Offices,
Bow Road, E.,
January 1st, 1913
Sir,—
I beg to present the fifth Annual Report of my work.
I resigned my position as Organising Secretary to the Poplar Health
Visiting Association on May 2nd, so shall be unable to give you as much
information regarding the Association as in previous years. The number
of visits paid by the Voluntary Helpers shows a decrease of only 465
compared with the previous year, when the Association employed a paid
whole-time worker; during the last six months however, there has been
a steady decline, the number of infants visited falling from 923 in the first
half-year, to 468 in the second. With the exception of the Isle of Dogs
each centre shows a decrease both in the number of visitors, and infants
visited. During the first six months, the attendances at the Consultation
Days showed an increase of 379 compared to the corresponding period of
last year. Each Centre contributed to this, South Bromley heading the
list with an increased average attendance of 171, North Bromley being
lowest—an increase of 1.8. I organised a Baby Show for the Association,
as a special effort during National Health week, the show being limited to
those attending the Consultation Days. There were 200 entries, and the
whole thing was a great success. The difficult task of judging was undertaken
by the Hon. Medical Consultants from each Centre, and all the
arrangements were carried out in a most admirable manner by the Voluntary
Workers. The Mayoress of Poplar (Mrs. F. Sedgwick) declared the
Show open and presided, Mrs. Sydney Buxton presented the Prizes.
I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks to
one and all. It is rather interesting to note that the Show was organised
in exactly the same way as advocated by Dr. Eric Pritchard in the current
number of "National Health." Four of the Voluntary Workers were
appointed to official positions during the year. Each expressed gratitude
to this Department for the help received. In making any comparison
between the rates of mortality—Borough and infants visited, I beg to
call your attention to the fact that the rate of mortality (115.62) given
by me, refers to infants born in 1911—a year marked by record epidemics