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106
The site of the mortuary and coroner's court (now closed) in Lambeth
High Street is eminently suitable for a day nursery for the North
Parliamentary Division, and no doubt some portion of the existing buildings
could be included in the structure of a day nursery.
With regard to the other two sites, buildings now used as dwellinghouses
could be acquired and converted, but unless care is taken the
expense of acquisition and conversion may be greater than the erection
of new premises. Until the Council has itself decided upon the financial
extent to which it will be prepared to commit itself, no useful purpose
would be served by publishing the addresses of suitable premises and sites.
4. Increase of Facilities for Dental Treatment.
The extent to which dental treatment is available at the welfare centres
is much below that required. The facilities can be improved by an increase
in the number of welfare centres where dental clinics are held and by
co-operation with school clinics and the voluntary hospitals to make use
of the facilities provided by them.
5. Provision for Convalescent Home Treatment.
The present inadequate arrangements of the welfare centres with
various voluntary agencies could be extended if additional financial
assistance were provided by the Council. Greater value would be obtained
for the money expended by co-operation with the welfare centres on lines
to extend the present schemes rather than by the Council itself making
direct arrangements. There should, however, be no difficulty, if the Council
prefer that course, to the inauguration of a scheme somewhat similar to
those already in existence for assistance in connexion with the employment
of midwives and home helps. The more direct measure of control by the
Council would doubtless commend itself.
The one bed in the Zacchary Merton Convalescent Home can be kept
fully occupied by cases from the Council's maternity home together with
such others recommended by the welfare centres, who are unable to make
any payment towards the cost of this treatment. Nominations for the bed
will be under the direct control of the Council and available for emergency.
6. Supply of Cod Liver Oil free in necessitous cases.
The Council may care to reconsider the recommendation of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee which was not approved in December, 1932
(Minutes, 1932-3, page 102) bearing in mind the prime importance above all
other considerations of an adequate balanced diet to the general standard
of physical and mental fitness.
7. Supply of Free Milk.
There are two lines upon which the Council may be inclined to take action
in this connexion :—
(a) To approach the Minister of Health with a view to the removal
of the general restriction upon the supply of milk to toddlers
between 3 and 5 years of age, except in special circumstances.
(b) To approach the Ministry of Health with the object of gaining
the consent of the Central Government to an extension of the
supply of cheap milk to schools to include welfare centres.