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Well-Baby Clinics at General Practitioners' Surgeries
In addition to the child health sessions at the Council's Maternity
and Child Health Centres, four health visitors attended well-baby sessions
held in general practitioners' surgeries.
Family Planning
Family planning advice was provided at Glenthorne, Greyhound, Parsons
Green and Westway Maternity and Child Health Centres, and an additional
weekly session was commenced at The Grove Health Centre.
Day Nurseries
At the seven Council day nurseries 84,336 (83,683) attendances were
made during the year. The demand for places continues and the shortage of
trained nursery staff remains a constant problem.
I
Student teachers, nutritionists, speech therapists, and students
undertaking training in the needs of the mentally-handicapped child have
attended the nurseries for practical training, or for visits of observation.
Medical and nursing students have continued to pay observation
visits to the day nurseries as in previous years.
1,773 (1,993) attendances were made at the unit for nine mentallyhandicapped
children under the age of 5 years, which forms part of Grove
House Day Nursery.
Occasional Creches
At these creches care is provided for children for periods of up to
3 hours, thus enabling a mother to keep a hospital, dental, or other
appointment or to attend aclinic or class on the premises. During the year
to meet the demands for this service, the number of sessions at Glenthorne
Road Maternity and Child Health Centre was increased to 5 weekly. The
total attendances at the Council creches were 4,652 (4^481).
Play Groups
Support has continued to be given to the eight play groups in the
area, and professional advice has been given by the nursing officers and
health visitors. Parents have been keen to avail themselves of the excellent
facilities provided in the way of constructive play for their
children, and have themselves participated in the activity of the play
groups.
Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948 as amended by the Health
Services & Public Health Act, 1968.
Section 57 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, requiring
persons other than relatives minding one or more children for two
hours, or an aggregate of two hours, to apply for registration by the
local health authority resulted in a considerable increase in the number
of applications for registration received by the department.
The position at the end of the year was as follows, the number of
approved places/children being shown in brackets:
C.4.