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Below is a table of the comparison of attendances at the Infant Welfare
Centres which will give further proof of the work which has been carried out :
Attendances
1935 27,188
1938 42,166
1946 40,944
1947 50,311
With increased knowledge regarding preventive measures to be adopted
in Infant Welfare Centres this service is bcoming quite a complicated one, and
the amount of benefit which can be rendered to the developing child in his
tender years is very great. The work done in the Maternity and Child Welfare
Department is the surest foundation for a sound "School Medical Health
Record" of the child. The more attention rendered to the Infant at this
period of his life, the less necessary it is to supervise him from a health standpoint
during the school years, a fact which has been forgotten in the past.
The fact that this service concentrates on this particular aspect and period of
child life can be seen from the School Health Reports of the last few years.
The decline in serious Orthopædic and Dental defects is mainly due to the
increased attention to Dietetics and correction made during the early years of
the child's life.
The value of the Post Natal Clinic is becoming increasingly evident to
the women and it is anticipated that another session will be opened in the
Weir Hall area early in 1948 to enable more mothers to be seen, and the
necessary treatment carried out.
The following figures need no comment :—
Attendances
1938 348
1946 1,576
1947 1,485
In the past the Post-Natal Clinics under Local Authorities were mainly
of a supervisory nature—a check-up was given at certain times in the PostNatal
period of a mother and then according to the findings she was referred
on for treatment. The desirablity of attending to minor conditions and pursuing
them to their ultimate goal is now being recognised as a very important
factor. The major conditions are readily recognised and dealt with
accordingly, but the minor infections and abrasions are inclined to be overlooked.
This is particularly so because the immediate consequences to the
individual are not serious, but the remote consequences may be very serious
indeed. It is for this reason that every attention must be focused on the minor
form of complaint to a far greater extent than in the past.
The Consultant Service is a very important one and women from the
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics are referred to this Clinic for expert advice
from any source in the Borough though they are usually referred from the
Council's own Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics.
The Orthopaedic Clinic plays a very important part in the life of the
child under five years of age, and has a most encouraging record of services
rendered. It is the oldest Specialist Clinic in Edmonton and during the long
term of years it has served the child population of Edmonton well. Difficulties
have been experienced, mainly associated with accommodation, and these
difficulties must continue on until new and properly equipped premises are
obtained. There are extensions needed from the point of view of equipment
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