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There has been a decrease of 91 in the number of attendances at the Infant Welfare
Centre, during 1937, probably accounted for by the decrease from 68 to 48 births. Visits
decreased by 550.
It has been possible to arrange that toddlers attending the Centre receive dental treatment
at Eastman's Dental Clinic, in Gray's Inn Road.
Sunlight treatment, when recommended by the Medical Officer in charge of the clinic,
is available through the kind offices of the Skin Department of St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
Both these arrangements are informal, and the assistance rendered by the two institutions
in question is gratefully acknowledged.
Through the kind offices of the Lady Almoner at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, eight of
the children attending the Infant Welfare Clinic and five mothers were accommodated in
the Convalescent Home.
During the year, the gift of Coronation mugs to all children attending the Centre was
approved by the Public Health Committee, and these mugs seemed to give considerable
satisfaction to the parents of the recipients.
Dr. Charles F. Harris, who is in charge of the Corporation Clinic held at St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, has kindly prepared the following brief report on the working of the Clinic during
1937.
" The Infant Welfare Centre of the Corporation of the City of London, which holds
" sessions at St. Bartholomew's Hospital on two days in each week, continued its activity
" during the year 1937. One extension was made in the work, and that was in the direction
" of increasing the supply of milk and vitamins to expectant mothers during the ante-natal
*' period. This involved home visits to 157 expectant mothers and is part of the work which
" will presumably be transferred to the City's Ante-natal and Maternity Service when this is
"established. There were 2,153 attendances at the Welfare Centre, and 1,115 home visits
"were made by the Health Visitors. Forty-eight births were notified in the City during
" the year and two infants died. This is a remarkably low figure, the importance of which
" is increased when it is realised that the death of one of these infants was due to causes for
" which there is no prevention, and the other death took place when the child was a week old,
" of a disease which could not be treated after the child was born.
" Twenty-five infants were immunised against diphtheria.
" The very successful working during the year has depended, as in the past, on the energy
" and enthusiasm of the Medical Officer attending the Centre, Dr. Franklin, and of the Health
" Visitors, Miss Backhouse and Miss Cook."
The following is a tabulated statement of the work carried out by the Health Visiting
Staff in the above connection :—
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE, 1937.
Birth Notifications received, 48.
Infant Welfare Centre, 99 Sessions :— (There were also 10 Sessions for Diphtheria Immunisation
and Schick testing.)
Under 1 year 863 ) Total 2,153
Over 1 year 1,290 J attendances.
Mothers attending during year 116
„ left City „ „ 37
No. Children becoming 5 during year 17
Total visits, 1,161 :
Under 1 year 281
Over 1 to 5 years 668
Ante-Natal 157
Ophthalmia 0
Deaths under 1 year 2
Still Births 2
Infant Life Protection 3
L.C.C. Reports for schools 0
Scabies 1
Puerperal Pyrexia 1
Diphtheria Immunisation 46