London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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19
Nurseries.
There were in the Borough six Day Nurseries. Four of them were
maintained by the Council and two privately. The expenses of those
maintained by the Council ranked for a grant from the Ministry of
Health, whilst to one of the private nurseries—St. Margaret's—a grant
was made under the block grant scheme of the Ministry of Health,
and to the other—Battersea Central Mission—a grant of 1s. per head
per attendance was made by the Council, the amount so expended being
recoverable from the Ministry.
The following table shows the attendances at the Nurseries.
| Nursery | Places | Total Attendances | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0—2 | 2—5 | Total | ||
| Battersea Park | 50 | 1,490 | 4,338 | 5,828 |
| Clapham Common | 50 | 1,656 | 4,855 | 6,511 |
| Nightingale Lane | 50 | 1,440 | 4,815 | 6,255 |
| Sisters Avenue | 40 | 1,554 | 3,945 | 5,499 |
| Total, Municipal | 190 | 6,140 | .17,953 | 24,093 |
| St. Margaret's | 27 | 140 | 647 | 787 |
| Battersea Central Mission | 50 | - | 5,760 | 5,760 |
| Grand Total | 267 | 6,280 | 24,360 | 30,640 |
Home Helps.
Facilities have for many years been provided by the Council in
suitable cases for assistance in the home during the mother's lying-in
period or in case of temporary illness of an expectant or nursing
mothre. this service was extended so that domestic help could be
given in cases of old age, infirmity or illness where considered
sary. In view of the difficulties in securing sufficient help to meet the
demand and to ensure adequate supervision the Council appointed a
Home Help Organiser, who took up duties in March, 1947. The
Home and Domestic Helps were engaged on a part-time and casual
basis were paid down by the down by the Joint Industrial Council and
the patients assessed to pay a proportion of the cost in accordance
with their means.
Home Help were engaged on 68 cases, the nett cost to the Council
amounting to £269 18s. 1d.
So far as the Domestic Helps are concerned, 217 cases were
attended, the cost for which amounted to £1,173 7s. 4d., and the contributions
from the patients amounted to £98 14s. 4d. The nett cost of
service is the subject of reimbursement by the Ministry of Health.