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THE WORK OF CHILD WELFARE CENTRES
The work of child welfare centres consists of supervision of the
development of normal young children and those ascertained as "at risk",
early detection of abnormalities of development; provision of facilities for
immunisation and vaccination against infectious disease; giving advice
concerning the feeding and management of children and the measures necessary
for the promotion of family health. The nature and content of this work
has changed very considerably since its inception. The emphasis is now
directed away from the detection and treatment of the gross defects found in
former years towards the more subtle problems of developmental abnormality
and family relationships. Advice concerning behaviour problems now forms a
very considerable part of the work carried out by medical officers and health
visitors in their consultation clinics, work demanding very different skills
to those formerly necessary.
Special toddlers clinics have been held in all the main clinics
where children are seen by appointment annually for assessment of their
physical and mental development and where more time can be devoted to
mothers who have problems than is possible at the general clinic sessions.
It has been possible to gradually extend this service and it is the intention
to provide facilities for an annual examination of this kind for all pre-school
children as soon as possible. Special sessions are arranged for immunisation
and vaccination of children where the numbers attending justify separation
from general infant welfare sessions.
A purpose-built Centre at the Roundshaw Estate is included in the
Council's Development plan for Health and Welfare Services. The Centre
on the Clockhouse Farm Estate which came into use last year is not
ideally situated to enable full use to be made of the building for clinic
purposes, serving as it does a comparatively small area of the Borough, having
been planned and built prior to the re-organisation of London Government.
It has, however, been possible to allow the use of the premises by a Play Group
which adds considerably to the amenities of the locality.
Child Welfare Centres

ARTE NATAL CLINICS
1030 Ante-natal clinics and 45 post-natal were held in the major
centres in the Borough during the year.
40