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58
In October a film about cytology technique and method was
shown to medical and nursing staff of the Council and to all
general practitioners who wished to attend. Dr. Hicks kindly
attended and answered questions on the subject.
Day Nurseries
Throughout the year there has been a steady demand for places
and admission has had to be limited to children of mothers who
are without the support of a husband, parents where the mother
is unable to care for the child because of ill-health, and parents
whose living conditions are likely to affect the health of the child
unfavourably, and widowed or deserted fathers. It has been possible
to admit a number of children for short periods during a domestic
emergency. Every consideration is given to special applications
but it is possible only to admit cases of urgent need.
There have been outbreaks of infectious diseases from time to
time but most of the children are very healthy and normally have
only mild attacks of these illnesses. These infectious diseases have
a considerable nuisance effect as they cause delay in the admission
of new children to the nurseries.
Deaf Children in Day Nurseries
Children under five years of age likely to benefit from beins in
a "hearing" environment may be admitted for part-time attendance
at day nurseries, a charge being made for any refreshments
provided but none for the attendance. They may have a hearing
defect themselves, or may have deaf parents and be suffering from
retarded speech owing to the lack of being in a hearing environment.
The admissions are normally limited to children under three years
of age. as children over that age are generally treated through the
education service and would be taken into day nurseries only for
some special reason and with the prior consent of the consultant
otologist. Most of the children attend ud to three hours a day,
but a child occasionally stays for a whole day provided that his
weekly attendance does not exceed 15 hours. During the year
there were nine such children in the Council's nurseries, seven of
these being still in attendance at the end of the year.
Private day nurseries and child-minders
At the end of 1966 there were 35 private day nurseries with
registered places for 780 children, 30 statutorily registered childminders
with places for 197 children, and 12 voluntarily registered
child-minders with places for 24 children. All three categories of
minders are regularly visited by the Council's medical staff and
health visitors, and advice is given on child care, immunization,
general health supervision and the training of young children.