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for examining all the new babies and being concerned with feeding problems,
behaviour difficulties, and the follow-up of all children needing medical
supervision.
When children reach their first birthday, then and on subsequent birthdays
until the age of five, they are sent an attractively designed birthday card. This
contains a request for the mother to bring the child to the clinic for a 'birthday check'.
By this means the medical officer is able to determine the developmental progress
of each child and to assess if there is any departure from normal.
Apart from routine work of this sort, other important screening procedures are
carried out:-
1. It is known that there is a much higher incidence of some abnormalities
following certain ante-natal and post-natal conditions. A very well known
example of this is, of course, german measles during pregnancy. In
such cases the child is placed on an observation register kept at each
clinic, and given the benefit of particularly careful surveillance. By
this means it is hoped that should there be any impairment of
development this is detected at the earliest stage and the child
referred to a specialist unit for complete assessment. During the year,
771 children were added to the observation register, being 13.7 per cent
of all live births in the Borough. The total at the end of the year was
3,225.
2. Phenylketonuria test. This test of the baby's urine is able to detect
one form of mental subnormality which is correctable by diet. There
were 5,659 babies tested in this way during the year, but no positive
cases were detected.
During the year, 14,207 children were brought to child welfare clinics.
Maternal and Child Health Dental Service (Priority Dental Service)
The priority dental groups comprise expectant and nursing mothers and preschool
children.

There is no doubt that all pre-school children benefit from regular dental
examination, starting at the age of three years, so that defects are seen early
whilst remedial action needed is minimal, and extractions avoidable. All the
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