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7
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA.
Births. The number of notifications received was 1,956, and the number
registered in Woolwich was 1,979. After correction for inward and outward
transfer the nett number of Woolwich live births was 2,903. It is known that
at least 1,999 births took place in Institutions.
Clinics and Treatment Centres. The Eltham Maternity and Child Welfare
Centre which had been maintained at 601, Westhorne Avenue since the destruction
by enemy action in 1941 of the Eltham Health Centre at Briset Road, was transferred
in April to the adapted first aid post at Lionel Road; the North Woolwich
centre at Fernhill Street, which had been in use as a first aid post, was re-opened in
September. At the end of the year the New Eltham Centre, which had been carried
on in the Legal and General Sports Pavilion, Footscray Road, throughout the war,
was transferred to the Bardhill Sports Pavilion, also in Footscray Road. With
these exceptions, the clinics and treatment centres at 31st December were as listed
in the Annual Report for 1945.
The attendances at the Centres were as follows:—
Expectant mothers, 13,620; nursing mothers, 12,027; children, 57,366.
These figures reflect not only the higher birth rate but the greater use now being
made of the welfare centres.
Toddlers' Clinics. The number of toddlers' inspections rose from 3,015
in 1945 to 3,720 in 1946.
One of the Council's Assistant Medical Officers reports that in most cases the
general condition and progress of the toddlers attending the clinics has been good
and their diet and vitamin intake satisfactory. A substantial number of cases
required dental treatment and a few cases of unusual defects such as squint and
deafness were referred for special examination. Postural defects, knock knees,
and flat feet, were the most common defects, but remedial exercises gave good
results. Beheaviour complexes and habits arising in some of the toddlers were
discussed with the mothers and advice was given as to the treatment of these
children at home.
Health Visiting. The number of visits paid by health visitors to children
under five years of age was 17,146; the total number of visits paid by health visitors
was 24,049.
Child Life Protection. There were 21 foster mothers on the register at the
end of 1946, two more than at the end of 1945, and there were 16 foster children.
The number of visits paid by child life protection visitors was 199.
Artificial Sunlight Clinic. A total of 10,391 treatments were given at
this clinic, compared with 10,228 in 1945.