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Pre-school Medical Inspection (Toddlers' Clinics).
Toddlers' Clinics are held fortnightly at each centre. The total attendances at these
clinics were 432, 269 at the Manor House and 163 at the Branch Centre. (See Appendix,
Tables XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, and XVIII.)
The general physical condition of children under five years of age in Southall is
on the whole satisfactory as the defects found, although apparently large in number, contain
several of a minor degree which are present fortuitously at the time of examination and
are quickly relieved.
Many children were selected during the year for treatment at the remedial exercise
classes where defects of posture and slight deformities are corrected by specially arranged
courses of exercise. Beneficial results are achieved in early cases and small defects prevented
from having serious debilitating effects in later life.
Treatment is arranged by the department for all defects found, and parents are
very happy to take advantage of the facilities.
Treatment.
Cases of acute illness, and of chronic illness where indicated, are referred to their
own doctors for treatment. For certain illness the following arrangements have been
made with London and local hospitals:—
Defect. Hospital.
Tonsils and Adenoids King Edward Hospital, Ealing, but during the war, St. Bernard's
Hospital treat these defects.
Orthopaedic conditions North Road School Clinic.
Orthoptic „ Western Ophthalmic Hospital, Marylebone Road.
Rheumatic ,, Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, W.C.
Child guidance West End Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Welbeck Street, W.i.
There are disadvantages in this variety of hospitals, but with the geographical
position of Southall some disadvantages are unavoidable. Help is given with payment
of fares if the family income is below a certain scale.
A system of following-up has been instituted whereby the health visitors make
enquiries to see if the proper treatment has been carried out and, if not, steps are taken
to persuade the parent to obtain the necessary treatment.
Remedial Exercises—Recommenced July, 1942.
Two afternoon sessions of special Margaret Morris Movement exercises are held
each week at the Branch Health Centre. The duration of the session is two hours, the
first half being devoted to children and the second to expectant mothers.
The attendances from July until the end of the year are tabulated below :—
Infants. Mothers.
First visits 48 14
Re-attendances 322 60
Voluntary Help at Clinics.
The voluntary workers continue to give considerable help in the running of the
Infant Welfare clinics. As has been pointed out before, the help given greatly aids the
efficient running of the clinics and it also saves considerable expense to the Council, who
are deeply appreciative of the work done.
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