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Facilities for the operative treatment of tonsils and adenoids are
available through the local hospitals. Ten children under the age
of five years were referred for operation during 1947 through the
Maternity and Child Welfare Department.
HOME HELPS SERVICE.
At the end of 1947 there were 3 home helps employed by the
Wimbledon Borough Council. During the year their services were
supplied in 68 cases where domestic assistance was required in connection
with home confinements.
The Wimbledon Borough Council also possesses a number of
domestic helps whose services may be supplied to householders where
there is illness or infirmity. At the end of 1947 there were 3 fulltime
and 17 part-time domestic helps employed. During the year 110
households were supplied with the services of a domestic help, for
varying periods according to need.
The total number of hours worked by home helps and domestic
helps during 1947 amounted to 26,597 hours.
NURSERY PROVISION FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE.
The day nurseries at All Saints Road and Russell Road were well
used throughout the year. At the end of 1947 there were on the
register 116 children (37 under 2 years of age and 79 between 2 and
5 years).
In the spring of 1947 the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee
reviewed the question as to whether the Russell Road premises should
remain as a day nursery or whether they should be transferred to the
Local Education Authority as a nursery school. If converted into a
nursery school the premises would, of course, remain open for shorter
hours and would only admit children over the age of 2.
In order to ascertain the needs of mothers a questionnaire was
sent to all those whose children were attending or on the waiting list
for admission to the day nursery.
In reply to this questionnaire the mothers of 71 children (40 over
2 and 31 under 2) stated that their needs would not be met by the
provision of a nursery school.
After considering the question fully the Committee resolved that
the day nursery should be retained until the Maternity and Child
Welfare functions of the Wimbledon Borough Council are taken over
by the Surrey County Council in 1948 under the provisions of the
National Health Service Act, 1946.
During the year 2 children were sent for short periods to the
Surrey County Council Residential Nursery at Woking on account of
the illness of their mothers. The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee
accepted financial responsibility, the parents being assessed to
pay a weekly sum in accordance with their means.
The Committee also continued to accept financial responsibility
for the maintenance of 3 Wimbledon children already in this nursery
at the beginning of 1947. Owing to unsuitable home conditions these
children still remained at the residential nursery at the end of the year.
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