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56
Nurseries and Child-minders Regulation Act, 1948.—This Act
which came into operation in August, 1948, requires, inter alia, that every
local health authority shall keep registers—
(a) of premises in their area, other than premises wholly or mainly
used as private dwellings, where children are received to be looked
after for the day or a substantial part thereof or for any longer
period not exceeding six days;
(b) of persons in their area who for reward receive into their homes
children under the age of five to be looked after as aforesaid.
No premises or persons were registered during the year, but at the
31st December three applications from persons coming within the purview
of paragraph (b) were under consideration, the appropriate certificates of
registration being issued in 1949.
Infant Welfare Centres.—94 voluntary lady helpers were engaged in
the work at the Infant Welfare Centres at the end of December, 1948.
During the year the following attendances were recorded:—
Total number of attendances of infants 49,444
First attendances 2,641
Total number of children on roll, December 31st, after
omission of all those who had not attended for six months 3,712
14,613 attendances of children from 1 to 5 years were made at the Infant
Welfare Centres during the year.

The attendances at the Infant Welfare Centres decreased during 1948
by 0.5 per cent. compared with the attendances for 1947.
672 sessions were held during the year; the average attendance at each
session being 73 mothers with their infants.
The following are the figures for each Centre:—
Sessions Average Attendance
Chadwell 48 87
Barkingside 48 83
Downshall 48 85
Becontree 48 53
Woodford Avenue 48 95
Seven Kings 48 72
Cecil Hall (Wednesday) 48 68
Cecil Hall (Thursday) 48 61
Newbury Hall 48 51
Grosvenor Road 48 81
Goodmayes 48 78
Ilford Lane 48 93
Valentines 48 64
Fairlop 48 54
Paediatric Clinic.—Dr. Anderson, to 4th June, 1948, and Dr. Warren,
from 16th June, 1948, the Consultant Paediatrician, continued to attend the
Clinic at Valentines Mansion each fortnight during the year.
24 sessions were held and 87 new cases were referred from the Infant Welfare Centres
and Maternity Hospital for the following reasons; a total of 204 attendances
were made.