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maintained through the almoners and the Council's care organisation are the West
London Hospital, The Victoria Hospital for Children, St. George's Hospital, the
Western General Dispensary, Paddington Green Children's Hospital, the Maida
Vale Hospital for Nervous Diseases, St. Bartholomew's Hospital (aural department),
Royal Northern Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, Victoria Park Hospital, the Miller
Hospital, St. John's Hospital, St. Thomas's Hospital and South London Women's
Hospital.
Employment of School Children.
The applications during 1926 for medical certificates in connection with the
employment of school children out of school hours under the Bye-laws, numbered
4,251, of whom 4,191 were boys and only 60 girls.
The nature of the work in the case of boys was delivery of milk 306, delivery
of newspapers 2,522, carrying of parcels 586, in a shop 382, in a coal yard 5, industrial
work at home 4, housework away from home 37, as a messenger 96, employment
not stated 48, in more than one occupation 36, with a butcher 1.
The 60 girls sought work in the delivery of milk 1, delivery of newspapers 33,
carrying of parcels 5, in a shop 6, industrial work at home 2, housework away from
home 6, as a messenger 1.
Certificates were refused on medical grounds in the cases of 74 boys and 6 girls;
in 262 cases the certificate was granted subject to medical treatment being carried
out, and in 57 further cases other conditions were imposed.
In two cases boys were subsequently found at medical inspection to be suffering
from overwork and after enquiry their employment was terminated.
In some of the cases where conditional certificates were issued they were subsequently
withdrawn as the conditions were not complied with.
Under the special regulations for the employment of children in public entertainments,
152 girls and 20 boys were examined and kept under observation during
the year.
Three girls were refused certificates on medical grounds, one on account of
high myopia, one for anaemia and general debility and one for scabies. One boy
with bronchitis was also rejected. 47 of the children were required to have medical
attention; for personal hygiene 8, throat trouble 2, dental caries 14, skin disease 1,
visual defect 13, nutritional disorders 8, orthopaedic attention 1.
Nursery Schools.
Nursery schools have been in existence in the London area for a considerable
number of years, the oldest (Notting Hill) having been opened about 1908, and
the Rachel McMillan three or four years later. In the beginning of 1917 a report
by the school medical officer was presented to the General Purposes Sub-Committee,
pointing out the advantages in poorer neighbourhoods of school attendance on the
control of infectious disease, the particular benefit of nursery schools under the care
of an experienced matron, and the desirability of having such schools under the
education authority in order that advantage might be taken of existing clinics
and other institutions. During the same year a conference, including education
officers, head mistresses and medical officers, was appointed by the education officer
to report upon the education of children under five. Their report, presented to
the Education (General Purposes Sub-Committee) in September, 1917, dealt with
various matters relating to nursery schools.
In 1918 the Education Act (Section 19) gave powers to local education authorities
to supply, or aid the supply, of nursery schools including nursery classes, for children
from two to five, and to attend to their health, nourishment and physical welfare.
Under this Section of the Act, regulations for nursery schools were issued by the
Board of Education in March. 1919 (copy appended).