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thirty one expectant mothers were seen, a decrease of 42 on 1929,
and a total of 1,652 visits to the centres were paid by them. The
total of all visits to the Centres was 63,951, an increase of 6,427
over 1929. This is the greatest total yet reached and serves to
indicate the appreciation of the services being rendered.
The decrease in the number of first attendances of infants over
one year of age is disappointing. The figure for 1929 was on the
low side, and a further diminution is recorded this year.
The highest average attendance of mother and babies at each
session was recorded at Norbury (93.1), Municipal (81.2), South
Norwood (78.5), West Croydon (78.3) and South Croydon (78.0).
At the first named centre two doctors were in attendance at each
session. Such large numbers, although indicating an appreciation
on the part of the mothers, throw a great strain on the organisation
of the centres. It is impossible for the doctor to devote as much
time as is desirable to individual cases, whilst the nurse cannot talk
to each mother at the length which is sometimes needed. The
only remedy is a multiplication either of the number of sessions at
each clinic, or an increase in the number of clinics.
The foundation of new centres has not, however, had any
appreciable effect, in the past, on the attendances at older centres.
At some of the centres, situated on the borders of the town, such
as Norbury, Upper Norwood and Shirley, a certain proportion of
mothers attend from outside the Borough. In connection with
Norbury, owing to the congestion, it has been impossible for these
mothers to be seen by the doctors, and they are always advised to
attend a centre in their own area. Unfortunately it is often the
case that such a centre is too far away for the mother to go to.
As these mothers do not live in the Borough and consequently do
not contribute towards the cost of these services, it does not seem
reasonable that they should have the same facilities as those mothers
who live within the borough boundary.