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During the year these health visitors paid 3,275 first visits and
5,331 subsequent visits to children under the age of 12 months;
and 1,152 first visits and 8,129 subsequent visits to children
between the ages of 12 months and 5 years.
Comparison with the figures for the previous year shows that
even with the short experience of the three autumn months, the coordination
thus effected, with the avoidance of overlapping and of
duplicate visits and the reduction in area of each district, resulted
in a marked increase in the amount of visiting found possible.
(c) Work of the Infant Welfare Centres.
1.—Voluntary Centres.
At the beginning of the year 9 centres had been established
by the Croydon Mothers' and Infants' Welfare Association, the
medical officer and the health visitor as nurse-superintendent being
provided by the local authority. During the course of the year a
new Centre was opened at Norbury, and has already attained
vigorous growth. Of these 10 Welfare Centres, 8 are open once
a week, 3 twice a week.
2.—Municipal Infant Welfare Centre.
The Municipal Infant Welfare Centre at 228, London Road
utilises during two afternoons each week the two rooms used as a
school clinic during the mornings. In addition, a dispensary and
a medical consultation room are provided.
During 1923 there were recorded at the Welfare Centres in
the Borough (Appendix, Table VIII.) 20,209 attendances of
children under 1 year of age, 20,103 attendances of children aged
1 to 5 years, 34,455 attendances of mothers. The medical officers
had 11,151 interviews respecting children under 1 year, and 9,693
interviews over children aged 1 to 5.
In addition, as mentioned in another section, 2,205 attendances
were made by expectant mothers.
(d) Sick Nursery.
One floor of the clinic premises at 228, London Road is used
as a sick nursery. Four beds are provided for children suffering
from nutritional disorder. Children are admitted from the various
Infant Welfare Centres on the recommendation of the medical
officer concerned.