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The Day Nursery.—No review of maternity and child welfare would be complete without reference
to one of its most important auxiliaries—the day nursery. Day nurseries existed in the Borough
over 40 years ago for it is reported in 1906 that nurseries at St. Paul's, East Street; Portland Town ;
St. Mark's, Violet Hill; and Ogle Mews were all found to be exceptionally well managed, clean and well
ventilated.
In 1917 the St. Marylebone Health Society added to its other responsibilities by opening the Portman
Day Nursery at No. 45, Exeter Street (now Ashbridge Street), the building being equipped and given
rent free by Lord and Lady Portman. In the same year the Health Society took over the Crossley
Day Nursery at No. 38, Barrow Hill Road, founded and supported for many years by the late Mrs.
Crossley. After several moves to temporary accommodation, the Portman Day Nursery finally found
its permanent home in 1938 in the well-equipped nursery premises built and owned by the Health
Society in Salisbury Street which remain a familiar feature among the modern welfare buildings of
the Borough. A third nursery—the St. Vincent de Paul—has existed in the Borough for many years,
first in Wigmore Street and later in Blandford Street.
The Health Society's nurseries continued to function until the outbreak of war in 1939, when they
were evacuated to the country and did not re-open in the Borough as voluntary nurseries after hostilities
had ceased. Four day nurseries, all recognised as training centres for nursery students, were established
during the war, three under the direct control of the Council and one maintained by a voluntary
body. All continue to meet an urgent need in the Borough.
The Reckoning.—After reading this summary the question may well be asked: "What results of
benefit to the community have been achieved by over 40 years of effort in the field of maternity and
child welfare ? " For reply it is necessary to refer to statistics, which have so far been avoided in these
notes as they are available elsewhere in great detail. A reliable index to the state of child welfare
in any area is to be found in the infantile mortality rate, which is the number of deaths of infants under
one year of age per 1,000 of the births which occurred in the same year.
Commenting on the infantile mortality rate of 173 per 1,000 births in 1871, the Medical Officer of
Health at that time points to the "melancholy fact that out of every 100 children born in St.
Marylebone about 37 die in the first five years of their existence, no inconsiderable number of them
being victims of the great and glaring defects that still continue to characterize our social and sanitary
enactments."
A similarly high rate continued for 30 years ; from 1901 to 1906 it dropped to about 140, and from
1907 remained at approximately the 100 mark for 12 years, falling to 65 in 1920. During the next 20
years it varied between 60 and 90, but in 1941 declined sharply to 41. For the next 4 years it changed
little—from 49 to 46—but in 1946 (the latest figure available) it reached a new low record of *36—
one-fifth of the rate 50 years ago. If this statistical survey be extended to cover the past century,
it is found that today five times as many children survive their infancy as in 1848; less than half as
many mothers die in childbirth ; and the expectation of life at birth has risen by 20 years.
This then is the brief record of maternity and child welfare in the Borough of St. Marylebone since
the earliest days. Many factors have contributed to the success of the work, not least among them
the keenness and enthusiasm of the Council at all times to improve and extend the service in any
direction likely to bring benefit to the mothers and children; the never-failing support accorded by
the Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare Committee to successive Medical Officers of
Health in the administration of the scheme ; the invaluable influence and assistance of numerous
voluntary organisations, notably the St. Marylebone Health Society; and the efficiency and loyalty
of the medical, nursing and administrative staff during a long period of years disturbed by two wars.
To the generations of mothers, too, must be given credit for their participation and co-operation in
the various services provided for their good.
And finally, perhaps the most important element in the progressively successful results achieved
in a service which is itself personal and homely is to be found in the intimate contact and close relationship
which have always existed between the staff of all grades and the expectant and nursing mothers
who have taken advantage of the scheme.
It is to be hoped that it may be found possible to maintain this relationship when the work passes
into other hands.
Town Hall,
St. Marylebone, W.l. July, 1948.
*When the 1947 figure was subsequently published, it showed a still further remarkable drop in the infantile
mortality rate to 26.55.