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the infant welfare clinics at the Bessborough Street and Ebury Bridge
Centres.
The appointments were advertised, and Dr. Margaret Salmond, M.D.,
B.S. (London), F.R.C.S., M.C.O.G., was appointed to the former post,
and Dr. George Ormiston, M.D., Ch.B. (Edin.), M.R.C.P. (Edin.), to
conduct the infant welfare clinics.
The City Council during the year reviewed its arrangements for the
supervision of children under school age following the receipt of Circular
1550 of the 29th May addressed by the Minister of Health to maternity
and child welfare authorities.
The Minister in his Circular stated that he had under consideration
the arrangements made by local authorities for the supervision of the
health of young children and that he was convinced that the arrangements
were satisfactory so far as they related to those under 2 years of age.
He was, however, concerned to find that in many areas insufficient attention
was being given to the health of children over 2 and under 5 years,
and he was informed that more than 16 per cent. of children entering
school were found to require treatment for disease or defects, which in
many cases could have been prevented or cured if adequate supervision
had been exercised throughout the pre-school years. The Minister
therefore made certain suggestions for remedying the existing state of
affairs and requested that authorities would review their arrangements
for supervising the health of young children and inform him of the result
of the consideration of his Circular.
The City Council expressed itself in full accord with the views of the
Minister as to the measures to be taken for safeguarding the health of
the pre-school child, and, in view of the abnormally low birth rate in the
City, considered it wise that practical steps should be taken to ensure the
welfare of the children born and to be brought up in the City. They
surveyed the whole field of the services already provided by the Council
in this connection, and, with a view to exploring what further developments
could be achieved, appointed a special Sub-Committee to consider the
matter with co-opted members from the City of Westminster Health
Society.
Health Visiting.—Apart from the welfare centres at two hospitals
in the City, there are 11 fully-trained health visitors attached to the four
welfare centres. The Council, however, in order to secure more adequate
visiting of the toddler child and thus to learn more exactly the extent
to which physical defects existed and required treatment, decided to
appoint an additional Health Visitor. It was further resolved to engage