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Child Welfare Clinics.
The attendances at the Child Welfare Clinics during 1945 are shown in Table XII
in Appendix.
The total number of attendances at the Infant Welfare and Toddlers' Clinics during
1945 was 14,070, as compared with 11,013 for 1944-
The figures for attendances at the Infant Welfare Clinics and Toddlers' Clinics show
a large increase. This is very satisfactory, although it has meant overcrowding during
many of the sessions, especially in the southern part of the Borough.
It is likely that part of this increase was due to the return from evacuation of a number
of mothers with their young children. Also, as noted previously, the further sub-division
of the districts and the alteration in the methods of visiting, whereby the health visitors
are in constant contact with whole families, is increasing the friendliness and good will of
the mothers for the health visitors and the clinics.
Approximately 80% of all infants born in Southall during 1945 were brought for
consultation at least once. In addition to this, the children attending the nurseries were
examined medically there. These children would in many cases have been brought to the
clinics for consultation if medical advice had not been available in the nurseries.
Pre-School Medical Inspection (Toddlers' Clinics).
Toddlers' Clinics are held fortnighdy at each centre. The total attendances at these
clinics were 464, 252 at the Manor House and 212 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
many of a minor degree which are present fortuitously at the time of examination and
are quickly remedied.
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.
An increase is to be noted in the number of children found with enlarged tonsils.
Difficulty in obtaining treatment for children requiring removal of tonsils has been increasing.
The waiting lists at the Hillingdon County Hospital are extremely long, and children have
had to wait as much as one year for this treatment to be carried out.
Enlargement of tonsils and adenoids is more likely to occur in children suffering
from frequent colds and it seems possible that the inadequacy of shoes which parents can
purchase for their young children, the shortage of coal for heating homes, and the unsuitability
of much of the clothing sold for babies may have contributed to the increase
here noted.
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 Hillingdon County Hospital.
Orthopaedic conditions North Road School Clinic.
Ophthalmic „ North Road School Clinic.
Rheumatic ,, Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, W.C.
Child guidance West End Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Welbeck Street, W.i.
Deafness Metropolitan Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital.
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