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Maternity and Child Welfare.
11
WAR TIME NURSERIES.
In May, 1941, the Ministry of Health and the President
of the Board of Education issued circulars Nos. 2388 and
1553 directing local authorities to provide War-time Nurseries
in their area if the Ministry of Labour and National Service
decided, from the facts at their disposal, that this provision
should be made to enable the mothers of young children to
take up work of national importance.
In the latter part of 1941 the Minister of Labour made
representations to the Council that Nurseries were needed in
Wandsworth, Putney and Balham. The Council, accordingly,
with the approval of the Minister of Health, took the necessary
steps to recondition, equip and staff the three Day Nurseries
in these districts which had been closed at the outbreak of war.
The Nursery in Fairfield Street, Wandsworth, was opened
at its new premises on the 12th January, and those at 95 Lacy
Road, Putney, and 22 Old Devonshire Road, Balham, on the
2nd March, In addition two war-time Nurseries were opened
in Mitcham Road, Tooting, on the 11th May, and at Christchurch
Road, Streatham, on the 22nd November. Owing to
the continued demand for nursery accommodation it was
recognised that further provision would have to be made, and
by the end of the year five other Nurseries were under construction,
viz.: in Endlesham Road, Balham; Cresset Street
and Larkhall Rise, Clapham; Sherwood Avenue, Streatham,
and West Hill Road, Southfields.
SANITARY SUPERVISION OF THE BOROUGH.
There has been a considerable increase in the number of
complaints made to the Department, and as a consequence the
inspections made for the purpose of investigating complaints
has increased from 11,048 in 1941 to 17,927 in 1942. The
inspection and supervision of the public air raid shelters in the
Borough has been continued, and 8,364 visits were made for
this purpose. The total number of inspections made by the
Inspectors for all purposes during the year was 38,852.
4,329 defects were found.
1,172 visits were made on account of verminous conditions
of houses or bedding. 423 inspections of Sanitary
Conveniences were made.
61 inspections were made to retail shops when it was
found that the provisions of the Shops Act, 1934. were being
observed.