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13
INFANT WELFARE CENTRES.
The six Infant' Welfare Centr s which have been
established by the Council continued to he held during the year,
the Sander stead Centre /eing opened weekly instead of twice
monthly as hitherto.
While the total number of attendances increased from
12,328 in 1942 to 13,904, the number of new cases diminished
from 848 to 8ll, The- reduction in new cases was most narked at
1 Old Coulsdon but Senderstead and to a slight extent Kenley shewed
increases. The most marked fa11s in the attendances of old cases
were at Rickman Hill (where the average attendance fell from 45
to 38) and Selsdon (average reduces from 63 to 59).whereas
increases were noted at Sanderstead (from 53 to 5o) and Old
Coulsdon (53 to 57).
On the whole total number of attendances was good,
but still well below the 17,038 made in 1958.
The total number a consultations with the Doctors
increased slightly but only owing to a marked increase at
Brighton Road, Coulsdon, the number being reduced at all other
Centres, particularly at Kenley and Sanderstead.
There was a pleasing drop in the number of cases needing
to be referred to hospital for minor op rative or other treatment
viz. from 59 and 68 in the previous 2 years and 41 in 1938 to 58
in 1943.
TODLERS CLINICS.
The year under review was the fourth complete year in
which special toddlers sessions were held at which the Doctors
confined their attention to children from 2 to 5 years of age.
While the number of sessions increased by 3 to 44
compared with 1942, the number of primary examinations
increased from 198 to 241 anil re-examinations from 261 to 323.
Increases were most narked at Brighton Road, Coulsdon, and at
Selsdon, but Rickman Hill ea;erienced a reduction-
DISTRIBUTION OF MlLK. ETC.
The Government Scheme for providing milk at reduced cost
for children under 5 years of age and ante-natal and nursing
mothers has involved the distribution of less milk by the Council,
but the Health Visitors and Doctors have had a considerable
amount of work to do in completing the forms required for this
and other purposes by the Government.
The Government issue of milk, fruit juices and oil
continued to be undertaken by representatives of the Food Office,
special assistants being employed on this work at all Child
Welfare Centres and at the Central Food Office.
DENTAL TREATMENT.
The scheme for the dental treatment of ante-natal and
nursing mothers was continued with its usual efficiency. It
is still thought to be the best arrange ent which can be made
under existing conditions, but it has always had the
disadvantages of being ponderous and relatively expensive.
The number treated in 1943 was 97, compared with 100 in
1942, 85 and 67 in the two preceding years and 90 in 1938.
DAY NURSERIES.
The two voluntary Day Nurseries, to each of which the
Council gives a substantial annual grant, continued to perform
useful service during the year, being generally full to capacity
and accommodating a total of about 60 children.
The Purley Wartime Nursery was open throughout the whole
year accommodating up to 45 children. Owing to difficulties
experienced in working in a converted house of two storeys, the
maximum accommodation Was reduced to 40 children towards the end