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As part of an experimental scheme for the reception of groups of severely subnormal
infants, specially chosen as being likely to benefit from attendance at a day nursery,
arrangements were made to set up a unit to accommodate not more than nine such infants
at Grove House day nursery. Notwithstanding some difficulty in recruiting suitable nursing
staff, the first children were received in October. Difficulty was also experienced in arranging
for attendance because of lack of suitable public transport, but it was found possible to
give some assistance in this respect and at the end of the year there were eight children on
the register, with a daily attendance of four.
A rearrangement of the accommodation for the training centres for the severely subnormal
in the division was effected. The elder girls, formerly at Branstone Street, North
Kensington, moved into the premises at College Park, North Hammersmith, a former
welfare centre specially converted for them, whilst the elder boys' centre housed in a church
hall was moved to the Branstone Street premises. As a result, each of these centres now
has very much better facilities for its work.
During the year the girls at College Park training centre took part in a scheme for
carrying out suitable work for industrial firms and received the first payment for the work
they had done before the Christmas holiday.
Liaison with other bodies—The Council continued to be represented on the maternity
liaison committee for the Chelsea, Fulham and Kensington hospital groups. Professor
McClure Browne of the Obstetric and Gynaecological department of Hammersmith
hospital has continued to hold meetings for local general practitioners and the Council's
ante-natal medical officers working in the division. Dr. C. W. Kesson, consultant paediatrician
of St. George's hospital, has arranged talks for health visitors and for medical
officers. The two discussion groups led by Dr. Felix Brown, Medical Director of the Earl's
Court child guidance unit, and Dr. Erskine, psychiatrist of the West London Hospital,
continue to be well attended by child welfare doctors and health visitors. A meeting of
hospital almoners, health visitors, superintendents of district nursing associations, tuberculosis
care organisers, home-help organisers, and divisional staff was held; much useful
discussion took place on the services provided by the Council which can be of use to persons
attending or being discharged from hospitals. Regular meetings were held with the medical
officers of health of the metropolitan boroughs in the division.
DIVISION 2, comprising the boroughs of Hampstead, Paddington, St. Marylebone,
St. Pancras and the City of Westminster
Dr. H. L. Oldershaw reports:
Maternity and child welfare—The birth rate in the division continues to increase although
it is below the county average.
A high proportion of all live-born infants are brought to the infant welfare centre in
their first year of life and the percentage of expectant mothers in the division who receive
ante-natal care at the Council's clinics is above the county average. Three evening sessions
are held for expectant mothers at work who find it difficult to attend sessions during the
day.
Ampthill Square maternity and child welfare centre, St. Pancras, closed at the end of the
year on the expiry of the lease. The clinic activities were transferred to Somers Town and
other nearby welfare centres.
Day nurseries—The demand for places has continued at about the same level for several
years and the level of occupation remains high.
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