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Gynaecological Clinic
GYNÆCOLOGICAL CLINIC
Number attending for first time 211
Total number of attendances 1,156
INFANT WELFARE
ATTENDANCES AT INFANT WELFARE CLINICS—1954
Number of children born in 1954 who attended 866
Total number of children who attended 2,824
Total attendances 29,340
Live births in 1954 numbered 998. Taking into account the fact that 46 babies
were born in the last two weeks of 1954, and their mothers could scarcely have had
the opportunity of bringing them along to a clinic in that year, approximately
91% of all children born to Barking mothers were seen at our infant Welfare
Clinics.
Distribution of Welfare Foods
In June, 1954, local health authorities took over the distribution
of codliver oil, orange juice, national dried milk and vita: in A and D
tablets from local food offices. In Barking the distribution of these
foods has been grafted on to the existing scheme for the distribution
of milk foods and other nutrients from infant welfare clinics. The
change over was effected very smoothly, and thanks are due to the
Municipal Restaurant staff and to the Borough Treasurer for the
efficient way in which the extra work was taken over at very short
notice. Central Clinic was made the main distribution centre and is
open each afternoon of the week and Saturday morning for the distribution
of these foods. At each of the other clinics the appropriate
foods are available at every ante-natal and infant welfare session.
Mental Health. Last year I said: "I am sure that a very important
part of the work of the infant welfare service of the future will be the
promotion of sound emotional development by means of the instruction
of parents and parents-to-be in the art of handling their children.
One cannot instruct without knowledge and understanding. Only
the more recently qualified health visitors have received specific training
in this aspect of their work, whilst few have families of their own.
Even today the medical student's training includes little child psy
chology, although later many doctors have the opportunity of learning
through their own children. The first step—the provision of “in
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