View report page

67
CO-ORDINATION.
In previous reports an impression was given of the way in which
the work of the Child Welfare Department is co-ordinated with
that of the School Medical Department by both activities being
conducted in four joint Health Centres, Mattock Lane, Cherington
House, Ravenor Park and Islips Manor, situated at convenient parts
of the town, and by the work of the one service being dovetailed
into the other in such a way as to make practically one complete
service dealing with children from birth until they leave school.
One great difficulty experienced has been in keeping under supervision
the child between one year and five years old, the toddler
or pre-school child as he has been called. While the child is under
one year old the mother, as a rule, brings him regularly to the
Centre, but after that the Health Visitors experience great difficulty,
unless another child arrives, in persuading the mother to
continue to attend the Health Centre. In many cases therefore
a gap occurs in the supervision and defects of a serious character
develop and remain untreated until the child goes to school. An
effort was made during the year to encourage the mothers to bring
their children regularly up to 5 years of age for a complete medical
examination. A beginning was made by circularising the parents
of many of the children emphasising the need for regular medical
inspection and suggesting a visit to the Health Centre. It was
found that this circular letter signally failed in accomplishing
its object. Then followed visits by the Health Visitors,
the result of which was a good response whether a circular letter
was received by the parent or not; in fact it was felt that the
letter was useless alone and that it did not assist to any extent
the Health Visitor on the occasion of her visit.
A new record of medical inspection based on the school medical
schedule was adopted and since June, 1931, a complete examination
of each child from 1 to 5 years attending the Centres was made.
Altogether in the six months 1,745 children underwent the complete
medical examination, advice being given to the mothers regarding
any defects found and treatment being offered for certain defects
in the same way as for school children.
Many of the mothers when they have had the purpose of the
examination explained to them have expressed appreciation and