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Welfare Centres, have been limited to leaflet distribution, the circulation of themonthly
journal " Better Health " and the distribution of the Council's Health
Handbook to expectant and nursing mothers.
The educational side of the work of the Public Health Service should not
be overlooked in this Scheme, as I am sure the residents of the Borough visiting
the Centre would appreciate the opportunity of seeing expressed in a practical
and interesting manner various services performed by the Council on their behalf.
The Council should also consider the value of providing facilities for lectures
on appropriate health subjects.
A room should be reserved in the Centre as an " exhibits " room, containing
say three or four museum display cabinets, an illuminated propaganda table, and
a drainage and plumbing models exhibit, etc.
The basement part of the premises mjght be regarded as suitable for this
purpose.
The waiting hall on the ground floor could also be used at convenient times
for lectures and film displays. A cinematograph projector and screen would
be an essential item of equipment, the cost of which would be approximately
£150. The sum of £75 would possibly cover the cost of the cabinets, exhibits
and models ; therefore the total cost of equipping this feature of the Centre
would be approximately £225.
Day Nursery.
From time to time enquiries are received at the Public Health Department
and by the Health Visitors for a day nursery service. Such enquiries are becoming
more frequent, consequently I have deemed it necessary to bring this matter
to your notice in this report.
At the end of 1936 I reviewed the subject of day nursery provision in a
report to the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, in which I referred to the
marked improvement in health and intelligence of children resulting from attendance
at these institutions.
In all districts there are unquestionably quite a number of children living
in unsatisfactory housing conditions whose dietary "may be inadequate or unsuitable
or where the necessary maternal care cannot be given because economic circumstances
compel the mother to go out to work during the day. These are the cases,
requiring day nursery supervision.
There are comparatively few municipal day nurseries in the Metropolitan
Area, although in a number of boroughs there are day nursery institutions conducted
by Voluntary Associations aided in their work by a grant from the Borough
Council.
The establishment charges for a service of this kind are somewhat heavy,
but if there is a justifiable demand for day nursery provision in the area, which is
difficult to assess, the Council might desire to give further consideration to this
question and decide whether the new Health Centre would be a suitable building
for this purpose or whether the particular requirements of a day nursery could
only be met by the erection of specially designed premises elsewhere in th&
Borough.
Bacteriological and Analytical Departments.
These services are at present conducted by Dr. G. Bousfield (Bacteriologist)
and Mr. Martin Priest (Public Analyst) who perform their respective duties in
their own laboratories.
These arrangements relieve the Council of any financial responsibility in
the matter of equipment and maintenance of laboratories.