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115
It will be advantageous to criticise briefly the existing services which are enumerated
in the preceding pages.
(i) Infant Welfare Centres.—I am of the opinion that the children of
Shoreditch are being extremely well catered for in the way of child welfare clinics.
The attendances of children between the ages of one and five years might presumably
be higher, but they compare favourably with the attendances in many other areas.
In the circular the Minister suggests that special clinics should be established
for toddlers. I believe that a special toddlers' clinic permits the medical officer in
charge to concentrate more on diseases, such as rickets, which are prevalent at these
ages, and from this point of view the inauguration of such a clinic is commendable.
On the other hand it must be borne in mind that special clinics imply special visits on
the part of the mothers, and consequently a temptation to cut down attendances at
other clinics. In view however of the Minister's very definite statement, I suggest
that a toddlers' clinic should be established at an early date, and that further action
should be dependent upon the measure of success achieved after an experimental
period of six months. In my opinion no additional staff would be required for this
experimental period.
(ii) Medical Staff and Supervision; Health Visiting Staff and Home
Visiting.—Although the Council has a fairly large staff of health visitors it should be
remembered that the number of sessions at clinics is also very large, so that the
proportion of the work which would otherwise be done in the homes of the children
is carried out at the centres; and, although the opening of a new centre in congenial
surroundings is a matter upon which any Council will pride itself, it should nevertheless
not be overlooked that the primary function of the health visitor is to get into
contact with individual children in their own homes. In Shoreditch, possibly one
side of the work has been somewhat overshadowed by the magnitude of the other.
I am unwilling to suggest any extensive addition to a staff which is at present
considerable, but, if a satisfactory number of visits is to be paid to the 1,400 children
who are not at present receiving attention, some addition must be made. I believe
that by administrative re-arrangements and by the appointment of one additional
health visitor, the number of visits to children between the ages of one and five years
could be markedly increased. At a later date it will be possible to decide whether the
appointment of one additional health visitor is sufficient.
(iii) Hospital Treatment; Minor Ailments.—The provision for hospital
treatment appears to be satisfactory. The arrangements for minor ailment treatment
are also satisfactory. It might however be possible to make some use of the
London County Council clinics which have already been established for this purpose,
and I intend to give consideration to this matter.
(iv) The arrangements for dental treatment and artificial sunlight treatment are
quite satisfactory.