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1938]
40
Medical Supervision of Children.
All children in the Day Nursery are medically examined on the day of their
admission or very soon after, and subsequently are examined or inspected at least
once a week by one of the Council's Medical Officers. The children are also weighed
and measured regularly.
In general, it may be said, that the condition of the majority of the children
on admission is fairly good, but a certain number of delicate children, not in need of
hospital attention, have also been permitted to attend.
Any child showing signs of possible infectious disease is, of course, not admitted,
and if suspicious symptoms should occur after entry, the child is immediately isolated
and the mother communicated with.
Though the main function of the Nursery is the care of children whose mothers
have to go to work, it has been found that all children attending have benefited
very considerably by their stay in the Nursery, as shown by their improved appearance,
increase in weight, and rise in the Haemoglobin (colouring matter) of the
blood, which has been estimated for several of the children by Dr. Hirst.
Children who are fortunate enough to enter the Day Nursery are not only
well cared for in a purely physical sense, but are also trained at an early age to cooperate
with other children and are educated to good habits where this is sometimes
rendered difficult by home circumstances.
Arrangements have also been arrived at with the North Islington Welfare Centre
whereby children found to be in need of urgent dental attention can be seen at that
Centre's Dental Clinic.
Day Nursery Statistics.
No. of places 45.
No. of attendances-
Whole day 7,260
Half day 892 Total—8,152.
No. of individual children who attended—
Under 2 years 71
Over 2 years 66 Total—137.
The occurrence of Measles and Whooping Cough restricted new admissions to
the Nursery for short periods during the year.
Voluntary Day Nurseries.
There are three Islington Voluntary Day Nurseries, all of which are in receipt
of a grant from the Council.
The Lower Holloway Day Nursery, 547, Liverpool Road, N.7. (Matron—
Mrs. Johnston), the South Islington (Pro Patria) Day Nursery, 9, Canonbury Place,
N.l. (Matron—Miss Campbell) continue to report more applications for Day Nursery
places than can be accepted, which would appear to indicate either the increasing
appreciation of the functions of a Day Nursery or an increase in the number of women
who go out to work and have to arrange for the care of their children whilst they are
away.