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9
their desire to attend do so each for a period of six months
chosen in turn from a long waiting list.
As a doctor who has done many years' work in such
centres, whose head has been stuffed with all the latest work
from paediatric literature, and finally as a parent of a small
infant, I recognise my inability to satisfy all varieties of
information required by the average mother. Types of
clothes, the material to be used, how to cook cereals, which
to give, when and how; bottle sterilization, the right sort of
pram, where to get it, an infinity of such questions, which
are best discussed in infant welfare centres with experienced
health visitors. Most family doctors are content to let this
continue, recognising, as I do, a medical man's limitations
in such knowledge and rapport. They are not vocal on the
subject, however, so as not to appear as traitors to their
more forceful brethren, who would demand that the services
cease, whether or not they can provide a satisfactory alternative.
Finally,I think it should be known that, as demand
indicates, more and more of the sessions are staffed only
by health visitors, without the attendance of local authority
doctors.
LIAISON WITH GENERAL PRACTITIONERS. BURYING
THE HATCHET.
It might be thought that local doctors communicate
enough with the medical officer of health, round a table at
the Ilford Medical Society, at the executive meetings of the
local B. M. A. division, or by distribution of news sheets,
or the annual report. Such, however, does not seem to be
the case, for a desire was recently expressed for special
meetings of general practitioners and the medical officer
of health and his staff, to discuss current epidemiology and
matters of liaison. The first meeting has been held, fifteen
local doctors attended, and it was generally considered to
have been a success. It will be repeated. As an example of
problems raised, a few of the doctors were worried about
a reported outbreak of smallpox in Spain and the requirements
of travellers to that country who were their patients.
A phone call on the spot to the Ministry of Health resolved
their difficulties. Unfortunately many local doctors do not
attend meetings; the enthusiastic few see each other with
great regularity.