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APPENDIX.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH SUBMITTED
TO THE COUNCIL ON 30th SEPTEMBER, 1936,
WITH REGARD TO CIRCULAR No. 1550 OF THE MINISTRY
OF HEALTH "CHILDREN UNDER SCHOOL AGE."
Arrangements for the Supervision of the Pre-School Child in
Battersea.
I. Summary of Circular 1550.
The Minister is satisfied that arrangements for the supervision
of the health of children up to the age of 18 months or 2 years are
satisfactory.
In many areas insufficient attention is being given to health
of children between ages of 18 months and 5 years. More than
16 per cent. of children entering school are found to require
treatment for some disease or defect which should have been
dealt with if there had been adequate supervision during the preschool
years.
There should be systematic visiting by the Health Visitor of
children until their admission to school. Where there is ground
for suspecting disease or defect, the mother should be advised
to consult the family doctor or to take the child to the appropriate
clinic.
In some areas "toddlers' clinics" have been instituted and
their success depends to a great extent upon regular visiting by
the Health Visitor.
The success of the arrangements will depend to a large extent
on the efficiency of the Health Visiting staff and in many areas
it may be necessary to increase the staff.
In certain areas day nurseries have been provided for the
care of young children whose mothers go out to work, and councils
should consider the desirability of establishing a Day Nursery.
The Minister will be glad if the Council will review their
arrangements for supervising the health of young children and
inform him of the results of their consideration of the Circular.
II. The estimated number of children between the ages of 12
months and 5 years in Battersea is 8,312.
III. The following arrangements made by the Council exist at
present:—
(a) Infant Welfare Centres.
There are 8 infant welfare centres in the Borough, 6 conducted
by the Council and 2 by Voluntary Associations to which the
Council make an annual grant.