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14
INFANT WELFARE CENTRES.
Centre.
Sessions.
Number of Attendances.
Examined
by Doctor.
Infants
Weighed.
New
Cases.
Over
1 year.
New
Cases.
Municipal Medical Centre,
Lordship Lane
254
7,131
603
6,079
158
3,462
The Chestnuts, St. Ann's
Road
256
8,065
663
5,787
94
3,425
The Town Hall
52
1,190
85
775
27
—
Totals
562
16,388
1,351
12,641
279
6,887
I am indebted to Dr. Alice King, M.D., M.R.C.P., Medical Officer
in charge of the Committee's Infant Welfare Centres, for the following
report:—
The general impression I have, on looking back over the year's
work at the Infant Welfare Centres, is one of harmonious progress. In
the first place, there is a greater readiness among the younger mothers
to seek advice on feeding and general management difficulties (of the
infant) at an earlier date than w~as the case some years ago. This, I feel
sure, is in large measure due to the tactful and good-humoured services
of the Health Visitors.
All new infants are seen by me, as far as possible, on the first
attendance and, failing this, at as early a date as possible. For the past
year or two I have been dealing with rather fewer numbers at each session,
going into more detailed instruction where necessary. This has been
made possible by the increased staff, the Health Visitors taking on some
of the more routine cases. Results have, I think, justified the change.
Apart from numbers concerned, I have noticed a definite advance
in the attitude towards dental caries. More mothers are ready to seek
treatment, for themselves as well as their children. The extra dental
clinics have, I am sure, contributed largely to this result.