View report page

31
The arrangements with chemists for the dispensing of prescriptions
on terms similar to those under the National Insurance
Act, have been continued.
The difficulties of the Isleworth Centre remain as before, it says
much for the appreciation of the work that the attendance is so good.
The Isleworth Centre had the limelight of notoriety focussed
upon it by winning the Daily Sketch Challenge Shield for the finest
child in the United Kingdom between 2 and 5 years of age.
The winner was a boy named Lionel Burnett.
The mothers at the centre felt that the presentation of the
Shield at Wembley was an occasion to be duly honoured. 62
accordingly went to do honour to the recipient, accompanied by
Medical Officers and Nurses. Conside able excitment was caused
by the contingent, and the fact that the two representatives who
went up to receive the shield, had between them contributed 28
children to the nation, produced additional applause. One was
present with her 19th child and another mother with her 9th, being
the first daughter after eight successive sons.
Ante-natal work is still very far from what is desired. The
advent of two new Midwives in the district is improving matters.
There is ample need for this work to be developed, as by careful
supervision of the mother during the latter mouths of pregnancy,
many tragedies to the family are avoided, and the welfare of the
child assured. There are not only the tragedies of the loss of life,
but of the mother's impaired health, which results from an unsatisfactory
confinement, which are almost always accompanied by
continuous pain or discomfort, the existence of which often entirely
spoils the atmosphere of the homo, in that the previously healthy
cheerful mother tends to become an irritable semi-invalid on whom
the cares of the family weigh unduly.
There are no facilities at present for the treatment of dental
defects in nursing and expectant mothers nor for any other treatment
for children under five years of age.