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129
The Earlsfield Welfare Centre was transferred from a church hall to specially
adapted premises at 102, Earlsfield Road. This new centre was formally opened on
1st November, 1951, by the Right Hon. the Chairman of the Council—Mr. J. W.
Bowen, C.B.E., J.P. As a result of this transfer it has been possible to hold an
additional welfare clinic and a mothercraft class weekly at the centre.
In the interests of economy and without inconvenience to the public, Queenstown
School Treatment Centre was closed on 30th June, 1951.
Premises
The number of children immunised against diphtheria and whooping cough
remained about the same as that for 1950, but the number of persons vaccinated was
60 per cent, higher.
immunisation
and
vaccination
Two day nurseries were closed during the year involving a loss of 101 places.
In the fourteen day nurseries remaining there are 683 places. One of these nurseries
is no longer recognised for training students. All the nurseries are closed on
Saturdays.
Day
nurseries
Additional clinics for consultation on bed.wetting were established at two
centres. The total number of sessions held was 209 and the attendances 1,998;
this shows an increase of 37½ per cent, and 22 per cent, respectively on the figures
for 1950. There were 333 new patients.
Consultative
clinics
The number of applications for recuperative holidays has remained steady but
there has been a further increase in the percentage placed through the division.
62 per cent, of the total placings were made direct as compared with 51½ per cent,
in 1950.
Recuperative
holidays
Because of the condition of milk bottles returned from schools, which I noticed
on a visit to a milk depot, I devised a scheme for the improvement in the standard
of their cleanliness. The scheme needed the co.operation of a large milk supplier
in the division and of the Borough Medical Officers of Health. Its main features
were a series of lectures to children in their schools by the Food and Drugs Inspectors
followed by visits of children selected from the classes with the best record for the
condition of their milk bottles (i.e., the removal of caps and straws and the consumption
of all the milk) to a milk bottling depot. The co.operation of this depot
was whole.hearted as is evinced by the fact that they showed the visiting children
films, supplied them with tea and provided transport where necessary. Between
September, when the scheme started, and the end of November, ten lectures had been
given in ten schools to 2,310 children and 150 children and a number of women who
serve the milk in the schools had visited the depot. This educational experiment is
expanding and a milk depot of another firm is participating. At the end of the
year there was evidence that the scheme was achieving much success. In some
schools the consumption of milk had more than doubled and the depot reported that
there was a great improvement in the condition of the returned bottles. An increasing
number of fleadteachers are asking for more talks.
Health
education
The need for closer co.operation between the departments concerned with the
moral health of the children has been appreciated. The Children's Department are
charged with the duty of caring for children who become delinquents but both the
Education Department and the Public Health Departments have responsibilities for
the moral and physical welfare of school children. The Health Visitor who visits a
family from the birth of the first child accumulates much knowledge of the family
circumstances and characteristics and is therefore in a position to make an important
contribution to the case work. With a view to assembling all possible information,
conferences have been held comprising representatives of the three departments, the
Moral Welfare Associations and the N.S.P.C.C. It is clear from the discussions that
there was already some liaison between the departments and these bodies. Steps
have been taken to intensify the means of co.operation.
Juvenile
delinquency
There has been a small increase in the attendances of tuberculous patients at
the handicraft classes held in the Chest Clinics. The diversional therapy scheme for
Tuberculosis