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18
(3) Maternity and Child Welfare.
Five sessions are held weekly in the Borough, three in
Chiswick and two in Brentford. The times these clinics are held
will be found on page 16 in the Table of Clinics.
In May, the Ministry of Health issued a circular (No. 1550),
entitled "Children under School Age," in which the Minister
pointed out the prevailing policy adopted in most districts and
indicated that more attention should be paid to children between
two years and school age. A report on this circular was issued
to the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee and, as it gives
a fair indication of the policy and work of this Authority, it is
set out below with the exception that in that report figures
were given for 1935 only.
Precis of Minister's
Statements.
Para 1: The Minister of Health
"has had under consideration the
arrangements made by local authorities
for the supervision of the health
of children not in attendance at
school." That arrangements are
satisfactory up to 18 months or
two years, and that last year's low
Infantile Mortality Rate (57 per
1,000) testifies to work of M. and
C.W. Schemes.
Para. 2 : "The Minister is, however,
concerned to find that in many
areas insufficient attention is being
given to the health of young children
between the ages of 18 months and
5 years. He understands that more
than 16 per cent, of the children
entering school are found to require
treatment for some disease or
defect." and points out how these
might have been treated and cured
during their pre-school age.
Para. 3: "The policy of the
Government in regard to the
provision of Nursery Schools, and
the admission of children under
5 years of age to the Infants'
Departments of Elementary Schools,
was explained in the Board of
Education's Circular 1444," and
points out that, whatever provisions
are made there will still be many
children under 5 years of age
requiring medical supervision.
Remarks and Comments.
In this Borough the Infantile
Mortality Rate for 1 was 41.
For 1936 it was 49, the rate for
England and Wales being 59.
In this Borough it was found that
of the 550 entrants examined in 1936
13.2 per cent. were found to require
treatment, which in many cases
should have been given during the
pre-school age.
This fact has been realised for
some time and efforts are made to
find and get these children to attend
a doctor or the clinic.
The volume of these efforts is,
however, limited by the amount of
other duties that have to be
performed.
Nursery Schools connected with
each Infants' School are now in
process of completion.