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Health Visiting.
Owing to the increased number of fixed welfare sessions at
which the attendance of the Health Visitors is required, the time
available for home visiting was correspondingly curtailed.
The number of home visits, excluding infant life protection
visits, fell from 11,287 to 8,893. They were made as follows :—
To expectant mothers-
First visits 65 —
Total visits — 141
To children under 1 year—
First visits 866 —
Total visits — 3639
To children 1-5 years—
Total visits — 5133
8893
Since the end of the year the staff has been increased by the
appointment of an additional Health Visitor, bringing the number
up to 5.
" Assisted " Milk and Other Foods.
The provision of fresh milk, dried milk, and other foods on a
considerable scale to necessitous mothers and infants has been
a marked feature of the scheme for many years. This is a substantial
item of expenditure, but is one, the adequate return on which,
in terms of health, can least be disputed.
The examination of the table which follows shows that 40 more
individuals were assisted than in the year before, whilst the increased
distribution in fresh milk, to take the chief item, was some
5,000 pints in the case of free issues and more than 6,000 pints in
the case of half-price issues. There were increases also in the
amounts of other foods distributed, such as Virol and cod liver oil.
Assistance given in this way is subject to two primary conditions—
(1) a recommendation on medical grounds and (2) the family
income being within certain limits fixed by the Council. Each
application is carefully scrutinised and the information relating
thereto checked in every case.
Dental Scheme.
The operation of the special toddler clinics recently established
has emphasised the necessity for increased attention to dental
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