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Voluntary Workers.
The help given by the Voluntary Workers Association in various duties at the
Council's clinics continued during 1946. The assistance given by the members so generously
entails considerable sacrifice of their time and assists greatly in maintaining 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.y 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 58 6
Re-attendances 770 28
Health Propaganda.
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 1946.
Midwives.
Arrangements in the Council's Domiciliary Midwifery Service remain unchanged
and leaflets are issued describing the services provided. These are available at the Manor
House and the Branch Health Centre.
Midwives attend regularly at the ante-natal clinics, where in consultation with the
doctor any anticipated difficulties can be discussed and a solution found.
(See Appendix, Tables XIX and XX, for information dealing with notifications
relating to Southall received from midwives resident in Southall during the year. This
information is based on material kindly supplied by the County Medical Officer of Health.)
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