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43
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
children under school age to stay at the Home at Whitstable.
Unfortunately, owing to the air raids, this is closed until after the
War, but when it re-opens, the Committee hope that it may again
be available for mothers and children.
Provision of Food. The Infant Welfare Centres have no
regular machinery for providing food for necessitous, expectant,
and nursing mothers. The Wandsworth Infant Welfare Centre
gave to one nursing mother three dinners a week at a local eating
house, for a period of three months, at a cost of one shilling per
meal. The Tooting Centre has given food in kind to about 100
necessitous mothers, the food having been sent by charitable
people.
(6) Creches. There are four Creches in the Borough, viz.:—
Putney, Balham, Tooting, and Wandsworth. The Putney Creche
has been in existence for 28 years, and is solely a day nursery for
the use of such mothers as are compelled to go out to work. It is
approved by the Board of Education, from which it receives a
grant, and is passed for 50 children. The attendances during the
financial year ended March, 1917, numbered 12,024.
The Balham Creche was also approved by the Board of
Education, but it is now temporarily closed until more suitable
premises can be found.
The Tooting Creche is held at Fairlight Hall, and is also solely
a day nursery. It is passed for 32 children. The attendances
during the year ended 31st July, 1918, numbered 5,174. The
charge is 6d. per day for one child, and 10d. for two.
The Wandsworth Day Nursery was opened in a small house
in Garratt Lane in May, 1916, and passed for 20 children only.
Towards the end of 1916, the Ministry of Munitions offered a grant
to the Committee if they would move into larger premises, and
take children of munition workers by day and night. In March,
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