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27
Child Health Centres
A Sub-Committee of the Central Health Services Standing Medical Advisory
Committee reported to the Ministry of Health on local authority infant
welfare centres. Their report approved the work being performed, and recommended
the continuation of the service. Future trends may result in family
doctors becoming more involved and if this is coupled with group practices
assisted by local authority staff, most observers would deem it logical progress.
Despite the reduction in the number of babies born in 1967 in Croydon
more new and total attendances were recorded at infant welfare, or,
as they are more aptly named - child health centres.
For detailed figures see Appendix pages 109 and 110.
Congenital Malformation
The scheme introduced in 1963 continued unchanged, regular returns
being made to the Registrar General. A total of 96 babies with congenital
conditions was notified in 1967.
For details see Appendix page 116.
Welfare Foods and Medicaments
In the area of the former County Borough only Ministry of Food dried
milk and vitamins were sold, and clinic medical officers prescribed from
a strictly limited list of "household" medicines. Where suppliers of proprietary
items had clinic voucher schemes these were allowed to operate.
Such arrangements were based on the concept that the functions of welfare
centres are the prevention of disease, advice to parents on child care,
health education, and supervision of the progress of children. Food, vitamins
and medicines are available for convenience, but the war-time advent
of the Welfare Foods scheme covered all essential nutritional needs and
the National Health Service the supply of medicines. In the former Urban
District, infant welfare centres (aa is common in many parts of the country)
sold a wide variety of proprietary preparations in "clinic" packs. Medical
Officers also had powers to prescribe whatever medicines they deemed
necessary. After very careful consideration the Committee resolved to
apply the former County Borough policy.
Issue of Welfare Foods in 1967:-
National Dried Milk 42,763
Cod Liver Oil 6,487
Vitamin A and D Tablets 7,019
Orange Juice 108,809