View report page

47
DAY NURSERY.
The Fulham Day Nursery is situated at Eridge House, Fulham Park Road, S.W.6, and is
under the control of a Voluntary Committee. The Council makes a grant of £626 per annum to the
Day Nursery; and in addition, every child admitted to the Nursery is provided with medical supervision
by members of the Maternity and Child Welfare staff.
Children are admitted to the Nursery between the ages of six weeks and five years; the mothers
pay a small fee. The Nursery receives for the day, or half-day, the children of mothers who must go
out to work daily.
The need for some method of caring for the children of mothers who have to go to hospital
for out-patient treatment, or into hospital for operative or other treatment, is an acute one and is
closely akin to the service provided by the Nursery for mothers who go out to work. A difficulty
of this kind very often induces a mother to wait too long before submitting herself to treatment. The
question of extension of the work of the Nursery in this direction is well worthy of consideration.
In every case Matron receives a home report of the circumstances of the child, and these reports
made by Health Visitors are of great value.
Breast-feeding is not only encouraged, but insisted upon where possible, if only partially. All
the feeding of infants is done on the principle of the use of breast standard milk, and the older children
get a well-balanced diet. An open-air regime is rigidly maintained.
The Day Nursery is affiliated to the National Society of Day Nurseries, 117, Piccadilly, W.l.
Girls of over sixteen are received for a year's training. After examination certificates of proficiency
are granted by the National Society. Some of the girls become children's nursery nurses, and others
proceed to hospital training.

SUPPLY OF MILK AND EXTRA NOURISHMENT.
Under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, milk may be supplied free
to necessitous nursing and expectant mothers and to children under three years of age. In certain
circumstances also, milk is granted to children between the ages of three and five years. The Local
Authority is required by the regulations of the Ministry of Health to ascertain that need exists, and a
special Milk Sub-Committee of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee meets monthly to consider
applications and make grants. Milk is also sold at cost price in cases recommended by the Medical
Officers, Health Visitors, or any local practitioner or hospital Medical Officer.