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During the past year, in place of working through local voluntary committees,
the Council has decided in four instances to assume sole responsibility for the administration
of centres, two in St. Marylebone, one in Old Ford, and one in south
Hammersmith. In each of these instances special circumstances arose which led
the Council to vary its long.standing policy. In three cases the centres have been
or will be transferred to new buildings erected by the Borough Councils, providing
accommodation for maternity and child welfare centres organised by the Borough
Councils, on the ground floor, and for school treatment centres on the first floor,
and in the fourth case the treatment centre concerned is accommodated in vacant
rooms of a Council school. So far, the new arrangements have worked very well.
So far as the general arrangements for treatment during the year 1937 are
concerned, the work at the hospitals and centres has been well maintained, and
the attendances of the children have been extremely good.
There has always been a proportion of parents who were unwilling to take
advantage of the facilities provided for the treatment of their ailing children. With
the increasing effect of education, this proportion has become progressively less,
but it is still remains higher than it should be. During the past year there has been
an intensification of educational effort in health propaganda, particularly the
"National Health Campaign," and there is evidence that this is already having a
salutary effect. It is hoped that this will increase in the future, with a resultant
increase in the proportion of parents seeking treatment for their children.
Developments
in 1937
At the end of 1937, the scheme comprised 18 hospitals and 81 centres, including
the King's Canadian open.air school centre (Bushy Park), and the Cyril Henry
centre. Three new centres were opened during the year, and 1 additional voluntary
hospital (Guy's) was included in the scheme. The three centres were the Charlton
(minor ailments) centre, Eltham sub.centre (minor ailments) and South Hammersmith
centre (dental).
The Lissonia treatment centre was transferred from 12, Salisbury.street,
Church.street, Edgware.road, to the new building erected by the St. Marylebone
Borough Council at 217, Lisson.grove, as a combined maternity and child welfare
and school treatment centre, which was opened on 26th August, 1937.

Eye defects
The number of eye defects dealt with in the eye departments of the centres
and hospitals during the year was 37,341, compared with 39,570 during 1936.
The arrangements at certain of the hospitals, in addition to refraction work,
include the treatment of children suffering from diseases of the eye. It is estimated
that of the total number dealt with (37,341) about 2,000 were cases of this nature.
Children suffering from eye diseases, e.g., blepharitis, keratitis, and conjunctivitis,
which need daily attention by a nurse, are, for the most part, dealt with in the
minor ailments departments of the centres. Acute cases, including those of trachoma,
can be referred speedily to the Council's residential special hospital at White Oak,
Swanley, where the children receive treatment, and, at the same time, are able to
attend the hospital school.
Special facilities for dealing with squint are provided in various districts of
London. Separate sessions for these cases are set apart at Belgrave, Central London
Ophthalmic, Guy's, King's College, Lewisham (L.C.C.), Royal Eye and St Mary's
hospitals, and at the Paddington, Streatham and Whitechapel centres.