London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

London County Council 1958

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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Table: Day accommodation for children Table (ii)—Day nurseries and child minders

Day accommodation for children Table (ii)—Day nurseries and child minders

At 31st december
19491955195619571958
DAY NURSERIES
Maintained11394868176
Grant-aided65555
Total11999918681
Places 0-22,5911,9031,7751,7471,690
Places 2-53,9583,6773,3682,9882,631
Total places6,5495,5805,1434,7354,321
COUNCIL'S CHILD MINDER SCHEME (Voluntary registration):
Child minders registered584743777838824
Children minded579851886954973
NURSERIES & CHILD MINDERS REGULATION ACT, 1948:
Private day nurseries registered (including part-time nurseries)2856586059
Places9721,6401,6461,7011,742
Child minders registered73106102132141
No. of children authorised to be minded501649611699781

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Occasional
creches
After the costs relating to children with free places in creches because their mothers
were taking part in a welfare centre activity were disregarded, practically the whole
cost of the occasional creche service was recovered in charges. Subject to this remaining
true, the intention is that the service will continue substantially at its present level, but
in future children will not be restricted to two attendances a week. At 31 July, 1958,
17 creches provided 280 places.
Residential establishments for young children
Residential establishments under the direction of the Children's Committee are visited
regularly by the Council's medical officers. The care of children suffering from physical
handicap or mental retardation, whether due to innate defect or emotional disturbance
is carefully reviewed. A register is also kept and reviewed periodically by a medical
officer so that constructive plans for the future of these handicapped children can be
made. New problems are arising as a result of early diagnosis of congenital handicaps
such as deafness and children must often be moved into the County so that they may
attend auditory training centres.
Adoption
and boarding
out
Every child whom it is proposed to board out with a view to adoption is given a
full medical examination by his doctor and the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health
is sought on the suitability of the child for adoption on medical grounds.
The opinions on the children referred by the Children's Officer in 1958 and two
previous years were as follows :
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