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resulting from these closures was, in part, offset by an increase in accommodation
provided by the enlargement of the nursery at Woolwich institution.
The accommodation remaining at the end of the year was 304 cots in public
health establishments and 255 in public assistance institutions, a total of 559, compared
with 589 at the end of 1933. The available accommodation provides a margin
against the temporary closure of nurseries for quarantine as the result of outbreaks
of infectious disease, and against the heavy demands on accommodation which recur
annually about August. The highest and lowest numbers accommodated at any
one time are shown in the following table which discloses a considerable decrease
from the previous years :—
Winter, 1934. Summer, 1934.
Highest. Lowest. Highest. Lowest.
Public health and public assistance nurseries 462 382 480 376
These comparatively low figures are possibly due in part to the greater incidence
of infectious disease, particularly of measles and whooping-cough, resulting in 401
transfers being made to infectious hospitals, whereas in 1933 the number of children
contracting these diseases was unusually low.
The number of children who were admitted to the nurseries for the first time in
1934 was 1,580, a somewhat lower figure than the corresponding one for 1933.
The children maintained in the Council's nurseries are classified as (a) separated
from their parents, (6) non-separated from their parents. Definitions of these categories
were set out in the annual report for 1930, where it was also explained that,
under the Council's administrative scheme, children in category (a) are placed in
the care of the Hospitals and Medical Services Committee, and those in category (b)
under the care of the Public Assistance Committee. It has hitherto been the practice
to make no differentiation between these cases so far as their accommodation in
public assistance and public health nurseries is concerned, but the grouping of
separated children in public health nurseries and non-separated children in public
assistance nurseries will no doubt gradually ensue as a result of the reclassification.
of inmates between the public assistance and public health departments which
is now in progress. A survey conducted in 1934 showed that there were on
an average 135 children regarded as "separated" and 299 presumed to be
"non-separated" in the nurseries at any one time. The figures cannot, however,
be regarded as conclusive and a further investigation is being undertaken as to the
relative number in each category for which accommodation is required. In addition
to the children maintained in public assistance and public health nurseries, there are
a number over the age of 18 months who have been removed to nurseries in residential
schools under the Education Committee's control, and in Roman Catholic
schools. The total number so transferred in 1934 was 171, the highest number
maintained at the residential schools at any one time being 186.
During the year progress has been made with structural alterations at various
nurseries, and, where necessary, with the provision of additional equipment and the
replacement of cots by those of newer type.
Medical education.
The arrangements instituted in 1933 for the training of undergraduates in the
Council's general hospitals have been reviewed and found to be generally very
satisfactory. Advantage was taken of all the facilities offered to the medical schools,
with the exception of one medical school where clinical facilities already available
were considered to be adequate.
The affiliations have been continued, and are set out in the subjoined table.
There are also included in the table details of the affiliations of general hospitals
with certain medical schools for the purpose of the instruction of undergraduates
in obstetrics. These arrangements provide for two students at a time to be resident
at each of the Council's hospitals concerned during the period of training. In addition
to the arrangements commenced in 1933 provision has now been made for the
instruction of students from St. Bartholomew's, Middlesex and King's College
hospital medical schools, the students from the last-mentioned alternating in residence
at Lewisham hospital with undergraduates from St. George's hospital medical school.