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INFANT WELFARE CENTRES.
During 1940, the Infant and Child Welfare clinics continued
to operate satisfactorily and all the customary services were
available for mothers, infants and toddlers.
The Chestnuts clinic, which in the early part of the war was
utilised for Civil Defence purposes, reverted to its normal use
from the 23rd September 1940, which relieved the congestion
occasioned by the use of emergency premises at 227 West Green Road.
Although, owing to evacuation, attendances were somewhat
reduced in the first half of the year, the numbers improved considerably
in the latter half in spite of air raid conditions.
The number of infants examined by the Medical Officer during
the year was 4774 compared with 5885 during 1939. New cases
numbered 800 against 1,503 in 1939.
The amount of rickets detected amongst children attending
the clinics was practically negligible and their nutrition and
general health, on the whole, remained good.
No increased tendency to anaemia was noticed. Where children
had returned to Tottenham from reception areas, the beneficial
effect of their stay in the country was much in evidence.
The increasing demand for the services of the special clinics,
especially the dental clinic, testifies to the good work done by
the health visitors staff.
BREAST FEEDING.
As the result of the Health Visitors' enquiries, it was
ascertained that 1396 infants have been fed as follows:-
Breast fed 932
Part breast-fed, plus milk,
dried milk or condensed milk 322
Bottle feeding - cow's milk 56
dried milk 54
Other artificial foods 3
Feedings unknown 29
Total 1,396
CHILD LIFE PROTECTION.
As a result of the evacuation of a proportion of the child
population, the number of foster mothers has been correspondingly
reduced. Also, women seem to prefer to undertake factory work
instead of registering as foster mothers as in pre-war years.
131 home visits were paid to foster parents during the year,
compared with 158 during 1939. The number of foster mothers
registered at the end of 1940 was 21 as compared with 28 in the
preceding year.
CONVALESCENT TREATMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.
Owing to war conditions there was a great reduction in the
number of children under five years of age sent away during the
year 1940. Many were already evacuated and the parents of those
that remained at home were unwilling to evacuate them.
(contd).