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employed by the Shoreditch School for Mothers, a voluntary institution situate at
28, Herbert Street, and operating in a district in the western part of the Borough
(vide No. 7 Summary on pp. 71 to 74). At the end of the year, therefore, eight
health visitors were at work in Shoreditch.
With regard to health visiting during the year 1925, the following deductions
from the appended summary (page 71) are of interest. The total number
of children under five years of age is estimated at approximately 12,000, of whom
about 2,600 are under one year, and 9,400 between the ages of one and five years.
Of these two groups, the infants under one year received approximately three visits
each, whilst of the children aged between one and five years, approximately 2,000
received on an average from four to five visits each.
The attendances at the Centres show a considerable increase over those of
previous years, the average per week being 574, as compared with 495 in the previous
year. The average attendance per session was 57, as compared with 50 last year.
Approximately 58 per cent. of all infants under one year in the Borough have
attended the Centres, and these have made on an average 11 visits each. Slightly
under 6 per cent. of the children between one and five years living in the Borough
attended the Centres, the actual number being 537. Each of these children made
an average of slightly under 15 visits each.
With the object of obtaining reliable knowledge as to the health of children
before they attend school, a special enquiry, instituted by the Chief Medical Officer
of the Ministry of Health, is being carried out under the general supervision of Dame
Janet Campbell. With a view to assisting in the enquiry, a small advisory Committee
of Medical Officers has been formed, of which Dr. Maitland Radford is a
member. Shoreditch being one of the districts chosen for the purpose, the necessary
investigations are now being carried out by Drs. Olivier Richards and Hodgson
concurrently with their work at the Centres.
Dinners have been served as in previous years to nursing and expectant mothers
at the Model Welfare Centre, 210, Kingsland Road, and at the Council's Dining
Centre, 28, Herbert Street. With a view to economy it was decided in the early
part of the year to dispense with the services of the two non-resident members of
the staff at the latter Centre, and to appoint one resident assistant in their place.
In pursuance of this plan, Miss Zamaitis was appointed temporarily at the beginning
of April.
During 1925, according to the information supplied by the Hospital Authorities,
some 427 cases from Shoreditch were dealt with at the Ante-Natal and Consultative
Maternity Centre of the City of London Maternity Hospital. Of these 126 were
examined by the Obstetric Surgeon attached to the Centre, some 269 examinations
being made. In all cases the urine was tested. In 301 cases the sister attached to