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on this subject as it is survery important and is the focus of so much attention
at the present time. Arrangements have already been made for the
midwives to attend Post Graduate Courses, and it is my intention to have
one midwife sent away per month throughout the coming year. This experience
should prove of great value to them.
The absence of suitable Clinics is still an outstanding defect in the ultimate
success of our Maternitv Service as a whole, and I hope the Council
will not stop until they have established in each Ward a major Clinic to
which the mothers of that area can go for advice and attention.
In the coming year it will be necessary to extend the special services,
as the numbers now attending the Clinics are so large that the present
arrangements are proving to be inadequate; I refer in particular to the
Dental Service, which has considerably increased during the last three years,
and there is no definite Ophthalmic Scheme in existence for children under
five years of age, and the present methods of referring them to the School
Medical Surgeon or Local Hospital must either be substituted or increased;
it will also be necessary to extend the Orthopaedic work. This speaks well
for the increased attention and higher quality of the work done in the Maternity
and Child Welfare Department.
A Specialist Clinic for Rheumatic and Aural Treatment has been established
in relation to the School Medical work, and it will be necessary in
time to extend this Service to the Maternity and Child Welfare Department
as well. The success in the treatment of Rheumatic and Aural defects is
entirely dependent upon detecting cases in their early stages. Aural defects
are very prevalent whilst the children are cutting their teeth and a Specialist's
advice during this critical period is invaluable.
During the course of the year it was necessary to increase the clerical
staff by the addition of a junior clerk, on account of the demand made on
their services, in the main due to the Midwifery Service, and the Municipal
Milk Scheme; the latter figures have nearly doubled themselves for 1938
over those of 1936, and a great deal of clerical work is involved in the execution
of these duties. It is most important that this work is carried out
promptly as otherwise mothers would be kept waiting for their supply.
On account of the long neglect of the toddler question in this area,
it is proving to be a very difficult part of the Service to induce the mothers
to bring their older children under five years of age to the Clinics, but
persistent efforts should gradually overcome this neglect.
The following information gives details of the Maternitv and Child Welfare
Clinics at the end of 1938 :•—
(1) Ante-Natal Clinic at Brookfield House, Fore Street (adjoining the
Town Hall). Four sessions weekly.
(2) Child Welfare
(a) At Brookfield House. Four sessions weekly.
(b) At St. Stephen's Church Hall, Bush Hill Park. One session
weekly.
(c) At St. Alphege Church Hall, Tramway Avenue. Two sessions
weekly.
(d) At St. John's Church Hall, Dysons Road. One session weekly.
(e) Weir Hall, Silver Street. Two sessions weekly.
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