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Total number of children who first attended at the Centres during
the year and who on the date of their first attendance were:
(1) Under one year of age 2,904
(2) Between the ages of one and five years 210
Total number of children under 5 years of age who attended at the
Centres during the year and who at the end of the year were:
(1) Under one year of age 2,446
(2) Over one year of age 5,141
Attendances: The average weekly attendances at the Infant Welfare
Centres in 1944 was 1,093. This fall in the figures against those of previous
years was due to the lower averages in the late summer and early autumn
months when so many had evacuated from the district. The highest
average attendance was the period 3 months up to the 20th May, a rate
of 1,221. In the previous year the highest average was in the summer
months with 1,324 for the ten weeks up to the middle of September and
1,425 up to the middle of October; corresponding figures for this last
year for these periods being 897 and 983.
TREATMENT.
The following particulars show the extent to which the facilities for
treatment are used:
Dental treatment: 141 children under five years of age and 178
expectant or nursing mothers were treated. 85 mothers were
supplied with dentures.
Physio-therapeutic clinic: 124 new cases were referred to the
clinic (123 children, 1 mother). The total number of attendances
by patients was 844 (136 massage, 748 electrotherapeutic).
80 patients were seen by consultant orthopaedic surgeon and
245 were seen by the consultant physiotherapist.
Correction of visual defects: 103 children were treated by arrangement
with the Middlesex County Council, most of these being
recommended to obtain glasses. Provision is made by which
children wearing glasses are retested periodically.
Operative treatment of tonsils and adenoids: 11 children were
treated at the Harrow Hospital for this condition under the
provisions of the agreement.
Convalescent homes: No children were sent to a convalescent
home.
Home nursing: Responsibility was accepted for the payment of
he fees for the treatment of 4 mothers and 2 children.
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.
The same arrangements continued in force with regard to the supervision
of foster children, each home being visited every month.
The following table summarises the information with regard to
foster children and foster parents in the district.