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136
Maternity
and child
welfare
The arrangement made in November, 1952 for expectant mothers from Hackney
Hospital to be referred to the Council's clinics for interim ante-natal care resulted in
increased attendances at ante-natal clinics. Attendances in 1953 totalled 9,173 as against
7,193 in 1952.
3,516 first attendances of infants under one year of age were made at the welfare
centres during the year (equal to 85 per cent. of children born). The total attendances
of children at the centres were slightly smaller than in the previous year. Despite the
continuing shortage of health visitors the number of home visits made showed
improvement.
Day nurseries
and childminders
The total available accommodation in the division remained at 666 child-places. The
demand for day nursery accommodation waned and at most nurseries there were some
vacant places at the end of the year. As an economy measure the hostel for day nursery
students at the Sun Babies day nursery was closed and all resident students were housed
at the Kingsland Road welfare centre.
Six private day nurseries registered under the Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation
Act, 1948 provided accommodation for 202 children and there were 3 statutorily
registered child-minders approved for the care of 13 children. There were at the end of
the year 72 approved daily minders.
Health
education
Parents' clubs at the Woodberry Down, Kingsland Road and Richmond Road
centres were developed further and mothers' and parents' clubs were inaugurated at
Barton House and Milton Grove centres. Arrangements were made for mothers
attending the centres at which parents' clubs were not held to be invited to join the club
at the nearest convenient centre and mothers of children attending day nurseries were
also invited to join. Further equipment was provided for making-up into exhibits and
the divisional office library of publications on health subjects was developed. The
following comparison of educational sessions and attendances shows the good results
obtained during the year.
Sessions
Attendances
1952 210 2,172
1953 288 5,421
Recuperative
holidays
Home help
service
A total of 962 holidays were provided, including 370 for school children and 152 for
children under school age.

Premises and
minor
improvements
During the year, the first programme of redecoration was completed. All health
service premises in division 4, for the maintenance of which the Council is responsible,
have been renovated and redecorated since 1948.
Various minor improvements to premises were made or commenced during the
year, such as the laying-out of additional play space to provide grass and hard areas for
the children and improvements to the heating and boundary walls at day nurseries and a
welfare centre.
Conclusion
A further programme of works for the year 1954/55 was prepared and approved.
I wish to place on record my appreciation of the support and encouragement given
by the Chairman and members of the Divisional Health Committee, of the helpful cooperation
of the borough medical officers of health and of the good work of the entire
divisional staff.