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24
Erith, and the Ante-natal Clinic were transferred here
to premises far more pleasant and suitable than those
hitherto occupied.
Notification of Births.
During 1920, 783 births were notified as having'
occurred in the district (including 15 still births), the
number registered in the district was 795. Twenty-seven
(13 males and 14 females) were illegitimate.
Houses where births have occurred are visited by the
Health Visitors, usually after the 10th day, but occasionally
visits are paid earlier where there appears to be
sufficient reason, such as the notification of ophthalmia.
As a rule they are well received.
The time of second and subsequent visits depends on
the conditions found at their first visit, some cases requiring
more frequent visits than others. Mothers are
encouraged to bring their children to the Welfare Centres
and advice is given them as to clothing and feeding,
and as to the care they should take of their own health.
The Health Visitors paid a total of 5,441 visits in
1920, made up as follows: 1st visits 905, subsequent
visits 3,514, ante-natal 446, visits to Tuberculous and
other infectious cases, including Ophthalmia, 522, and
visits to dental cases 54; these figures compare favourably
with those for 1919, viz.: 4,738, 592, 3,044, 452,
557, and 93.
The Infant Welfare Centres were opened each week
during the year (except those in which a Bank Holiday
occurred).
The total number of attendances was 4,188 (Erith
Centre 2,167, Belvedere 2,021), as compared with 2,897
the previous year (Erith 1,514, Belvedere 1,383).
The ante-natal clinic was open the same number of
times, and 180 expectant mothers made 253 attendances.