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DR. ROSE TURNER'S REPORT.
The number of babies attending the Infant Welfare
Clinic during 1925 has increased very considerably. The
Clinic was opened 46 times, there were 2,609 attendances,
an average of 56 per session. This shows an increase of
855 on the number of attendances in 1924. It is encouraging
to note that there were 174 first attendances during the
year.
There has been a steady gain for some years past. A
comparison of attendances for the last three years may be
of interest.
In 1923 there were 1,533 attendances including 103 new cases
„ 1924 „ „ 1,724 „ „ 147 „
„ 1925 „ „ 2,609 „ „ 173 „
While this increase affords most gratifying testimony
to the success of the Centre, the result of such a large
number is that more children present themselves at the
Clinic on a Thursday than can be conveniently attended
to. I examine, as a rule, more than 50 children at a session,
and frequently many more; on one occasion I examined as
many as 70!
In order that the work may be done without such a
strain it would be advantageous to hold an extra Clinic
every fortnight, and, if the numbers continue to increase,
that the extra Clinic should be held weekly.
When bringing their children to the Centre several
mothers have been observed to have defective sight or teeth.
In such cases cards are given for the Out-patient Department
or the Dental Clinic of some hospital in the district.
Many have been benefited in this way and have gratefully
appreciated the assistance rendered.
In spite of the prevalence of illness, and of the fact
that the weather during the past year has been indifferent,
only two children who attended the Clinic have died.
Twenty-four children have left the district, and where
the new addresses could be obtained they were passed on
to the Medical Officer of Health of that district.
The numbers attending the Ante-Natal Clinic show a
good increase. The Clinic was opened 10 times during the
year and there were 98 attendances.
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