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The number of items loaned directly by the City Council is now in excess of 700 as compared
with just over 600 in the previous year.
Help and advice is readily available from the Department's staff operating the Loan of Equipment
Scheme, and an excellent relationship exists with general practitioners, hospitals and social
workers associated with the work of this Section.
Incontinence Pads
Under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, incontinence pads are provided for
and distributed to appropriate patients visited by the Home Nurses or upon the recommendation of a
general practitioner.
In Circular 14/66, the Minister of Health urged local authorities to extend their schemes to include
the provision of waterproof knickers, pants and liners, to all who would benefit from their use.
An additional amount was provided in the Estimates for 1967/68 for this purpose with a view to
providing a more comprehensive service in Westminster during 1967.
DAY CARE OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS
City Council Day Nurseries
The City Council provides accommodation in Day Nurseries for children under 5 years of age where
the child has only one parent who has to go to work; where the mother is in poor health and cannot
care adequately for her child; where home circumstances are detrimental to the health of the child
and where the mother is compelled to go out to work as an economic necessity. Children who
fail to make normal progress for their age are also admitted for a period of observation and assessment
and at the discretion of the Medical Officer of Health children may enter a nursery to allow qualified
women, e.g. doctors and teachers, to return to their professions.
A total of 325 new applications was received, of which 198 in the priority categories mentioned
above were admitted during 1966. Pending admission, the remainder received advice upon the
placing of their children in private nurseries or with reputable child minders registered with the
City Council.
Severely mentally and physically handicapped children place a heavy strain upon the mother and
to afford the parents some temporary relief from the need for continual vigilance and attention a
number of places are reserved for them. The importance of this type of service is fully realised
and plans are in hand to increase these facilities by the provison of special care units at selected
day nurseries.
Of the 8 City Council Day Nurseries providing accommodation for 450 children, training facilities
exist at five where students are trained for the examination of the Nursery Nurses Examination
Board of the Royal Society of Health.
Despite minor outbreaks of infectious disease at the City Council's Day Nurseries which reduced
attendances during some periods of the year, the average attendance during 1966 was 89%.
Sponsored Child Minder Service
In March 1966 the City Council approved a pilot scheme subject to Ministry of Health approval
whereby suitably qualified persons could undertake in their own homes, and in return for payment
by the City Council, the minding of children nominated by the City Council. The Ministry subsequently
stated that the City Council had power under the existing approved proposals made by the
former London County Council for the care of young children, and that no formal amendment to
these proposals under Section 22 of the National Health Service Act 1946 was necessary.
Subsequently, a mother trained in child care and who owned premises in the Paddington area
applied to be included in the scheme. The available accommodation, after adaptation, was
considered to be highly suitable and the City Council approved her registration under the Nurseries
and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948 to mind up to 10 children under the age of 5 years. A
high standard of service and facilities was demanded and has been forthcoming. The nursery has
proved to be an adequate alternative on a small scale to the City Council's Day Nurseries and parents
have been happy for their children to be placed there. The sponsored child minder has co-operated
with the City Council and results have shown the scheme to be most successful, helping to reduce
the overall waiting list.
The minder receives fair payment from the City Council for the service she provides and parents
of limited means, who are assessed to pay according to their financial circumstances as applies to
the City Council's Day Nurseries, are therefore able to have their children well cared for during the
day.