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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.
Voluntary Workers.
The help of the Voluntary Workers Association with various duties at the Council's
clinics continued during 1945. The help given by the members so generously entails considerable
sacrifice of their time and assists greatly to maintain the smooth running of busy
clinics. It is seldom that a call made, even at very short notice, to the Voluntary Workers
Association for help is unanswered, and the Health Department staff appreciates this very
much.
Remedial Exercises.
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.
This clinic is of considerable value for children with mild degrees of bone deformity,
i.e., knock knees, bow legs, flat feet, etc. Minor forms of these complaints are treated
experimentally by means of wedging of shoes and corrective exercises. If good results are
being obtained, there is then no need for a specialist's advice, the services of the specialist
thus being available for more serious cases.
The attendances during the year are tabulated below :—
Infants. Mothers.
First visits 38 9
Re-attendances 646 18
Health Progaganda.
At clinics, in the homes, in the nurseries, in the hospital, and in the schools there is
a continual and persistent education in health matters in progress ; children are learning
the reasons for being clean, for having correct diet, and how to prevent disease, and parents
are advised about these things and in more detail the dangers of dirty homes, unsound and
badly cooked food, housefly and vermin infestation, the importance of sleep and a regular
life for young children, and so on.
Health posters supplied by the Ministry of Food, Central Council for Health
Education and other educative bodies are displayed on the Council's posterboards and in
clinics and libraries.
Mothercraft sessions are held at both clinics where mothers are given talks on the
principles of health, hygiene, infant feeding, etc., and instruction as to making of infant
garments and the cooking of food for young children.
The scheme whereby infants at one year receive a greeting card with a reminder
that anti-diphtheria immunisation should now be undertaken, was continued during 1945.
Health Week.
In September, 1945, an intensive week of propaganda for positive health was held in
the Borough.
At the Maypole Institute there were sessions held twice daily when prominent speakers
on various matters relating to public health and hygiene gave talks and invited discussion.
Films on health topics were shown twice daily and demonstrations of Margaret Morris
health and remedial exercises were given by members of the Margaret Morris Movement.
Certain youth organisations in the town gave demonstrations of physical training, first aid
and home nursing. Several medical manufacturing companies co-operated by purchasing
stalls for display of their products at the Maypole Institute during Health Week and a noteworthy
exhibit was the first public showing of the manufacture of penicillin.
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