London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Lewisham 1970

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]

This page requires JavaScript

DAY CARE OF CHILDREN
Health Department Day Nurseries
The matrons and staff have maintained a high standard of care and support. Children
attending the day nursery are in a high priority category.
During the year there has been an increase in part or full day care for handicapped
children, although the handicap may not originate in the child. In one of
the nurseries three children attend because they have a deaf and dumb mother, one
child also has a dumb father. Communication between mother and child and lack
of conversation may cause retardation in the child. There is, of course, the added
risk of accidents because the mother will not hear the child cry or call.
The nursing staff have worked enthusiastically and have delighted children and
visitors alike with their water-colour pictures on walls, in rooms and in corridors.
The following table shows the number of admissions and discharges for the three
day nurseries during the year:—

Table 12

Day NurseryAdmissionsDischarges
Amersham Road5772
Rushey Green6161
Shaftesbury House4346

The nursery students who completed the two-year course of training were successful
in the Nursery Nurse Examination Board examination. At the end of the year
15 students were receiving practical training in the nurseries and theory in the
Southwark or Brixton colleges of technology.
Early Care Unit
With fifteen subnormal children, the nurses in this unit have given outstanding
devotion and care to these often unresponsive children. The patience and understanding
shown by the nurses has earned the gratitude of the parents.
Creches attached to health centres have provided a valuable service for mothers
attending the session as well as providing occasional care whilst the mother has to
keep a hospital appointment for herself or other members of the family.
All creche attendants have benefited from attending a short course at Goldsmiths'
College. There is a great demand for this service.
Private Day Nurseries, Childminders and Pre-School Playgroups
The work of inspection, registration and supervision continued; an assistant nursing
officer accompanied by a medical officer visited all premises for which applications
for registration had been made. Health visitors visited and reported on all established
groups. Follow-up visits are essential to maintain satisfactory standards and check
on changes in staff and attendances. The organiser of playgroups and childminders
gave valuable advice to new and established groups, including the purchase of equipment
and the provision of suitable activities for the children. She formed the link
between the Council and voluntary organisations, visited childminders providing
35