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Developmental Assessments
Children attending the child health clinics are examined at regular intervals to
assess their general development and progress.
These assessments have a number of aims:—
(1) To identify as early as possible any deviation from or abnormality of development
that could lead to continuing disability.
(2) If such deviation is found to institute further investigation and/or treatment
in conjunction with the family doctor, parents or others concerned.
(3) To identify any child at special risk of abnormal development and ensure
that progress is observed at regular intervals.
(4) To help parents to understand the principles of child development in general
and of their own child in particular.
In relation to the last point it is worth noting that many mothers have shown great
interest in these screening procedures and have been anxious to discuss how they can
best help their child's general progress
The routine assessments are carried out six-monthly during the first two years of
life and thereafter at yearly intervals until the child enters school. This involves
special training in child development and the majority of medical officers have attended
courses to help them in this work.
Dental Treatment — Expectant and Nursing Mothers and Young Children
Mr. G. H. Tucker, L.D.S. R.C.S., Chief Dental Officer, reports as follows:—
The number of attendances and the amount of treatment given during the year are
shown in Tables I and II below. Comparative figures for 1970 are also indicated.

The figures in Table I show that slightly fewer pre-school children were brought to
the clinics for inspection in spite of continued efforts by health visitors and medical
officers to encourage mothers to do so. It is encouraging to see that in both tables the
number of fillings has increased while the number of extractions decreased.
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