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Screening Procedures
Research continues in the Borough with continuous surveys of children
born with spina bifida and other congenital malformations.
There are screening procedures offered to the parents of all infants:
a) Phenylketonuria test at 3 weeks of age (to be replaced by the
Guthrie test at 6 days of age on 1st January 1970.)
b) Cystic Fibrosis at 3-4 months of age in conjunction with the
Medical Superintendent of Queen Mary's Hospital for Children.
c) Hearing test at 8 months.
As a result of these screening tests a small number of children are
found to have abnormalities before symptoms are apparent and appropriate
treatment is arranged very early in life, thereby minimising the severity
of the defect.
Audiology Clinic

The Mothers' Clubs
These clubs are held every week or fortnight at the local Health
Authority clinics for all mothers with children under 5 years of age.
Clubs are organised either during the day, when there is a rota for
the mothers to care for the children in another room, or in the evening.
Health Visitors initially make arrangements to form a club at their
clinics and subsequently hand over responsibility for the actual running
of the club to the mothers, but are always available for advice and
guidance.
The London Borough of Sutton require no payment for the use of the
premises where clubs are held, provided 50% of the time is spent in
Health Education. Various speakers are invited to address the mothers
on varied and topical subjects, including medical, homemaking and intellectual
matters.
Many of the Mothers Clubs are very enterprising and the young mothers
make friends outside the home and enjoy social activities coupled with
stimulating educational topics. They are a "morale booster" to many a
young mother moving into a new area or giving up work when the first baby
arrives.
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