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60
Model Welfare Centre Ante-natal Consultation Friday, 10.30 a.m.
Hoxton Hall Infant Welfare Consulta- Tuesday, 2 p.m.
tion.
Hoxton Market Mission Infant Welfare Consulta- Monday, 2 p.m.
tion. Wednesday, 2 p.m.
Harbour Lights (Goldsmith Infant Welfare Consulta- Friday, 2 p.m.
Row). tion (two doctors).
School for Mothers Infant Welfare Consulta- Tuesday, 10 a.m.
tion.
School for Mothers Infant Welfare Consulta- Thursday, 10 a.m.
tion.
School for Mothers Ante-natal Consultation Thursday, 10 a.m.
In addition ultra-violet light clinics arc held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Fridays.* A doctor and at least one Health Visitor are in attendance at each
infant welfare consultation, and invaluable help is rendered by voluntary workers,
to whom we are extremely grateful for their assistance during the year. The total
number of attendances of voluntary workers during the year was 1,101. The total
attendances at the various clinics numbered 47,154 as compared with 45,421 during
the previous year.
Although the figures show an increase, the rate of increase has not been so
great as in previous years, the inference being that the more resistant section
of the population now remains to be tapped. The total number of children under
5 resident in the Borough is estimated to be approximately 11,000. The attendance
of children over 1 year still remains comparatively poor, and it is proposed to launch
an intensive effort to persuade mothers to bring this very important group under
medical supervision.
As the result of an investigation held during the year, details of which are given
at the end of this section, it was found that approximately 75 per cent. of Shoreditch
mothers are confined in their own homes, and in this connection it is worthy of note
that in every year of the past decennium the mortality rate for puerperal sepsis in
Shoreditch has been below that of London as a whole, and in some years considerably
so. Why this should be so under such conditions of overcrowding and poverty
it is difficult to say with certainty, but it is significant to note in this connection
that a comparatively large proportion (about 77 per cent.) of Shoreditch mothers
have had ante-natal examination, and that the majority of cases of puerperal sepsis
can be directly attributed to trauma or other causes which are to a large extent
preventable.
The number of mothers and children on free milk has remained approximately
the same as in the previous year, and inestimable advantages have been derived
from it. Dinners have been supplied to nursing and expectant mothers at the
See Report on Light Clinic, page 74.