View report page

Clinic Work
The numbers attending the various clinics rose steadily
throughout the year, so that additional ante-natal sessions and
child welfare sessions have been established at all municipal
clinics, in particular the ante-natal clinic attendances increased
and continue, to date, to remain at a high level.
Total number of children who attended at the clinics during
1945:
Under one year 2,512
One to five years 3,533
Total attendances of children during 1945:
Under one year 21,347
One to five years 7,720
Ante-Natal Clinics
Total number of women who attended the clinics during
1945: 4,577, with a total attendance of 15,887.
Post-Natal Clinics
Separate sessions have not been established at the Council's
clinics for post-natal work, but it is hoped to organise this
scheme in the near future, so that all the nursing mothers will
be encouraged to regard post-natal supervision as necessary, as
is supervision during pregnancy. Additional staff will be required
for such work. In 1945, however, 254 mothers attended for
such post-natal examination.
Staff
There were no changes during 1945 in the medical staff,
but several resignations occurred amongst health visitors for
various reasons, e.g., retired on superannuation, leaving the
district, etc. It has been difficult to replace the health visitors,
especially with experienced staff who are so urgently required
to deal with the many varied problems of the mothers in
this area.
Dental Clinics
Concurrently with the increased attendances at the antenatal
and child welfare clinics, there was a greater demand made
on the dental services. Mrs. Rogers, L.D.S., continued as
dental surgeon, attending 7-8 sessions per week. The improvement
in the teeth of children under five years has been a
noticeable feature during and since the war, so that her work
is more concentrated now on expectant and nursing mothers.
29