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Islington is not likely to decrease until the Council is able to provide additional
day nurseries places, and proposals for these are included in the Council's Ten Year
Plan.
The following statistics indicate the high demand for nursery places -
Average daily attendance during year 271
Average rate of occupation 90%
Waiting list at end of year 359
Child Minding
When it was found impossible to admit a child to one of the Council's nurseries,
the normal procedure was to suggest that the parents should consider using the
services of a daily minder. These minders were in two categories, (iy those women who
were registered by the Council under the provisions of the Nurseries and Child
Minders Regulation Act, 1948, to mind three or more children and (ii) those who were
voluntarily registered by the Council to mind less than three children and who
received a weekly fee of 6/- from the Council. Certain regulations were laid down by
the Council which the minder must observe. These included taking the child regularly
to the local Welfare Centre.
Before any woman could be registered under either of these schemes the Council
had to be satisfied as to her suitability to care for children and that she had
adequate facilities in her home to meet their needs. All minders were visited
regularly in their homes by the Council's medical officers or health visitors. The
numbers of these minders are given below -
Statutorily registered minders at end of 1966. 17
Total no. of children actually minded at 31.12.66 69
Voluntarily registered minders at end of 1966 60
Total no. of children actually minded at 31.12.66 99
There were also two private day nurseries registered for a total"of 34 children
under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948.
Such, however, was the demand in this area for minders to take children while
their mothers go to work that many children were left with minders who are not
registered by the Council. Many of these women were breaking the law by minding more
than two children or minding them in conditions quite unsuitable for the purpose. The
Council's officers investigated all such cases that came to their notice and such
action as was possible was taken to stop them minding or to improve conditions.
Domiciliary Midwifery Service
At the end of 1966 the Council's domiciliary midwifery staff consisted of a nonmedical
supervisor of midwives, a superintendent midwife who takes charge of the
midwives' hostel and assists the supervisor. 12 full-time midwives and 2 part-time
midwives. The Council's duties also included the statutory supervision of 158 other
midwives practising in the London Borough of Islington, most of them employed in
hospitals.
Domiciliary Confinements
During the year 648 domiciliary confinements took place within the borough. 172
other patients who had been booked for delivery at home were transferred to hospital,
because of complications occurring late in pregnancy or during labour, In 29 cases
the midwife required to call for the assistance of the emergency obstetric unit. The
Council's midwives conducted 9 ante-natal clinics at 8 welfare centres. General
practitioner obstretricians also hold clinics at the same centres simultaneously to
see their own-booked patients.
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