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59
Infant clinics in connection with the maternity departments of
Westminster, St. George's, Middlesex, and the General Lying-in Hospitals
are held weekly in those institutions, but they do not come within the
maternity and child welfare scheme of the Council. Since the Discontinued
Grants (Apportionment) (London) Order, 1930, made by the
Minister of Health, the infant welfare clinics at Charing Cross and the
Infants' Hospital, Vincent Square, receive annual grants from the City
Council, and are accordingly included in the maternity and child welfare
services of the Council.
Nursing.—Under the maternity and child welfare scheme of the
Council arrangements are in force with the three district nursing associations,
the Pimlico, Belgravia and Chelsea; the Westminster; and the
Metropolitan Associations, for the nursing of children under five years of
age suffering from various ailments, and for certain conditions in adults.
The following table shows the nature of certain conditions for which
nursing visits were paid:—

Ophthalmia neonatorum.—Four cases were notified during the year,
2 of those being treated in hospital. There were also 7 instances of
watery discharge from the eyes which were brought to the notice of
the health visitors. All cases of ophthalmia neonatorum are visited as
soon as possible after notification in order to see that adequate treatment
is being provided. Treatment for attention of the eyes was carried
out by the district nurses in 25 cases, 386 visits being paid.
It is satisfactory to note that although the total number of births
show an increase of 67, the incidence of ophthalmia neonatorum has
decreased, and investigations show that the infections are much milder in
character. At the end of the year, it is reported that no case of impaired
vision had resulted among the cases notified throughout the year.