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47
Three children were in the sick nursery on the 1st January,
1924, and 51 children were admitted during the year; 50 were discharged;
1 died; 3 were remaining in the nursery at the end of the
year. The duration of stay varied from 2 weeks to 3 months; the
average stay was 3 weeks 3 days.
The premises are not suited to the purpose, and the cost of
maintenance of so small a number of beds is of necessity proportionately
large. In view of (his, and of the. approaching termination
of tenancy of the premises, the question of providing other
accommodation for the sick nursery and for a number of clinics was
considered during the year; and the Council approved proposals
for the erection, on vacant ground adjoining the St. Mary's
Hostel, of a two-storeyed brick building, the ground floor to give
accommodation for an Infant Welfare Centre, Ante-natal Clinic,
School Clinics, Massage Clinic, Dental Clinics, and Eye Clinic;
with on the first floor a sick nursery of twelve beds and 1 isolation
cubicle, with a verandah and access to the garden; a ward of two
beds for nursing mothers; and quarters for resident staff. The
tender for the building amounted to £6,330, and building operations
were about to commence at the time of preparation of this
report.
(e) Foster Children.
Numbers of foster children are brought to the ordinary
sessions of the various Infant Welfare Centres. In addition, two
special clinics for foster children are held once a quarter; during
the year there were 12 attendances by foster children under 1 and
180 by those between 1 and 5 years of age, at the special clinics.
(f) Massage Clinic.
The massage clinic for children under the age of 5 years was
continued at the clinic premises at 228, London Road for three
afternoon sessions each week. Much useful work is done in improving
the condition of children suffering from infantile paralysis,
various types of muscular atrophy, and debility after rickets or after
one or other of the acute illnesses to which young children are
exposed.
823 attendances were made at the massage clinic by patients
during the year.
' A small charge is made for treatment in the majority of the
cases.