London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
St Pancras 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
120
Dr. Pritchard is the Medical Administrator.
The age limit for admission is from 18 months to 5 years.
The children are either convalescent after illness, or are weak, badly nourished, etc.,
and require good food, fresh air, and special care.
A large garden is attached to the home and an outdoor playroom has been provided.
Close co-operation with the Council's Welfare Centres is essential if full use is to be
taken of the facilities offered at this Home, and this is secured by the appointment of the
Deputy Medical Officer of Health as Administrative Medical Officer to the Home.
The staff consists of a Matron, Assistant Matron, three Probationers and a domestic staff
numbering three. A laundry, equipped with electrically-driven machinery, is also attached
to the Home.
The number of children admitted during the year was 151, the average length of stay
in the Home being 32 days.
(b) Children requiring a longer period of convalescence, or who require more skilled
nursing, are sent to various homes by the Invalid Children's Aid Association, and a contribution
of £1 for each approved case up to a total of £50* per annum towards the cost is
made by the Borough Council. Under this scheme 40 children were sent away during the
year under review.
* Increased from £36 per annum to £50 per annum, vide Council Minutes dated 21st December, 1938, and a maximum
of 40 was allowed for the financial year ending 31st March, 1939.
Day Nurseries.
The Council assists three approved day nurseries in the Borough by the payment of
block grants as approved by the Ministry of Health, and also makes a contribution to the
Foundling Site Day Nursery, based on one-quarter of the expenditure incurred by the
Nursery adjusted to the proportion of St. Pancras children attending.
Particulars in regard to the day nurseries for the year ended 31st December, 1938, are as follows:—
| Number of Days Open. | Attendances. | Average per Day. | No. of places for children under 5. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitefield Day Nursery | 230 | 6525 | 28.4 | 40 |
| Kentish Town Day Nursery | 231 | 8401 | 36.3 | 45 |
| Margaret Club and Day Nursery | 270 | 20784 | 77.0 | 100† |
| Foundling Hospital Day Nursery | 185* | 4930 | 26.3 | 35 |
* Nursery closed temporarily at end of September.
† Increased from 60 as from 28th March.
Nursery Schools.
The undermentioned Nursery Schools are situated in the Borough They provide care,
facilities for play, training in good habits, and some elementary instruction for children who
are too young to be admitted to the ordinary schools.