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Voluntary Workers.
The work done by members of the Voluntary Workers' Association at the various
clinics was of great assistance to the Health Department staff and the fact that these ladies
were always willing to give so generously of their time and energies has been most warmly
appreciated, and it is to be hoped that their valuable services will be obtainable and even
expanded under the new regime.
Remedial Exercises.
Two afternoon sessions of special Margaret Morris movement exercises were held each
week at the Branch Health Centre, part of each session being devoted to remedial exercises
for children and the other part for exercises for expectant mothers and nursing mothers.
This clinic was 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 were treated
experimentally by means of wedging of shoes and corrective exercises. If good results were
being obtained, there was then no need for a specialist's advice, the services of the specialist
thus being avaiiable for more serious cases.

Health Propaganda.
At clinics, in the home, in the nurseries, in the hospital, and in the schools there was a
continual and persistent education in health matters in progress; children learnt the reasons
for being clean, for having correct diet, and how to prevent disease, and parents were 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 were displayed on the Council's posterboards and in clinics and
libraries.
Mothercraft sessions were held at both clinics where mothers were 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 1 year received a greeting card with a reminder that
anti-diphtheria immunisation should now be undertaken was continued during 1948.
Midwives.
Arrangements in the Council's Domiciliary Midwifery Service remained unchanged
and leaflets were issued describing the services provided. These were available at the
Manor House and the Branch Health Centre.
Midwives attended regularly at the Ante-natal Clinics where, in consultation with the
doctor, any anticipated difficulties were discussed.
The total of midwives' bookings for the period was 157.
Mothers were encouraged to arrange for home confinements in normal cases as, with
the heavy attendances at the Hillingdon County Hospital, the length of stay of normal
cases had to be reduced, and mothers returned home a few days after their confinements to
finish their immediate post-natal period in their own homes. But the social circumstances
in very many cases made it impossible even for normal cases to have their babies at home
because there was not accommodation or facilities in the houses for the undertaking of safe
delivery of the mothers.
(See Appendix, Tables XVII and XVIII for information dealing with notifications
relating to Southall received from midwives resident in Southall during the year. This
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