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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE CONSULTATIONS.
There are 18 Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, 10 of
which are conducted by the Croydon Mothers' and Infants'
Welfare Association and 2 by the local authority. A total of
sessions per week are held and at these a doctor and one, or, if
necessary, two health visitors, on the staff of the Health Department
attend.
During 1944, 2,663 new cases under 1 year of age and 449
over 1 year of age attended for the first time; the total of attaidairces
of infants and young children from 0—5 years decreased
from 85,809 in 1943 to 50,884 in 1944. Consultations with doctors
decreased from 22,935 to 17,034. 45 expectant mothers were seen,
a decrease of 12 on 1943, and a total of 209 visits to the Centres
was paid by them. The total of all visits to the Centres was
57,093, a decrease of 29,149 compared with 1943.
The highest average attendance of mothers and babies at
each session was recorded at St. Stephen's (72.5), South Croydon
(69.1), St. John's (63.8), Norbury (60.1), Municipal (57.5), Boston
Road (57.5).
Dental Treatment.
Maternity and Child Welfare Patients.
Expectant and nursing mothers and children below school
age are referred by Medical Officers attending Ante-Natal Clinics
and Infant Welfare Centres. Since the inauguration of the
Municipal Midwives Service, applications for dental treatment
have also been received in increasing numbers from this source.
Expectant Mothers.
New cases examined during the year numbered 602 compared
with 570 last year, and represented 93 per cent, of the total number
of mothers seen for the first time. Of the above, 85 per cent, presented
themselves during the first six months of gestation; the
remaining 15 per cent, seen during the later stages of pregnancy,
included some who had either failed earlier appointments or
"declined" dental treatment when this was previously advised in
the Ante Natal Clinic.