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

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Marylebone 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]

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*Family Planning Clinic.—At the Lisson Grove Welfare Centre the Council made accommodation
available to the Family Planning Association to enable them to conduct a family planning clinic on
one evening a week. The first session was held on the 3rd May, 1948.
*Convalescent Home.—Convalescence for pre-school children continued to be available under an
arrangement by which the Council undertook the maintenance of one bed at the Hart's Leap Toddlers'
Convalescent Home, Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey.
Care of Old People.—The St. Marylebone Old People's Welfare Association, established in May, 1947,
and supported by representatives of various voluntary organisations, religious bodies and statutory
authorities, carried out a useful year's work in the interests of the aged inhabitants of the Borough.
Progress was recorded in the more prominent aspects of the Association's activities, including the
home visitation of old people and the delivery by the local branch of the Women's Voluntary Services
of dinners to the aged in their homes. In this latter connection the Council took advantage of section
31 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, and made a contribution of £300 per annum to meet the
expenses of providing transport for the " Meals on Wheels " service. The provision of much needed
hostel accommodation for old people has been under active consideration throughout the year
and it is hoped that, despite the shortage of suitable buildings for the purpose, it may be possible to
start a scheme to meet the demand which exists for such accommodation. Arrangements have been
made for the supply of food parcels to old people, and there are special facilities available for the
delivery of coal and wood blocks to those urgently in need of fuel. The W.V.S. " Darby and Joan "
clubs and several other clubs opened during the year are running successfully, and a number of wellattended
concert parties for old people were organised by various local bodies. Representatives
of the Association took part in national and regional conferences held to discuss the many problems
affecting the aged, and the Executive Committee gave consideration to new legislative measures
relating to their welfare, and brought to the notice of government departments matters in which old
people were directly concerned. Though it may be necessary at a later date to launch a wide appeal
for funds for major schemes which the Association has in view, the ordinary running expenses have
been met in the meantime by contributions from friends of the Association. The extension of the
various services provided by the Association is almost entirely dependent upon more helpers, and
offers of assistance will be welcomed by the Honorary Secretary, Miss M. K. C. Macintosh, Room 103,
Town Hall, St. Marylebone, W.l. (Telephone: Welbeck 7766).
*Day Nurseries.—Four day nurseries (whole-time), all recognised as training centres, continued to
function in the Borough. As from the 15th January, 1948, the number of places at the Devonshire
Street nursery was, at the request of the Ministry of Health, reduced from 57 (21, 0-2 years ; 36, 2-5
years) to 50. During the year the Borough Council co-operated with the London County Council in a
scheme intended to benefit nursery students in their training for the nursery nurses certificate, by
receiving into the St. Marylebone day nurseries students from the County Council's residential nurseries
to gain experience with children over two years of age. Reciprocal arrangements enabled students
from the Borough Council's day nurseries to be sent to the County Council's residential nurseries for
experience with small babies during the 24-hour period.

*TABLE 4.—Day Nurseries.

No.NurseryDate of OpeningNo. of Places.Average Daily Attendance
0—2 years2—5 yearsTotal0—2 years2—5 yearsTotal
112-18 Salisbury Street26 1 1942365490225072
2St. Vincent's Creche, 14, Blandford Street11.9.194215203591928
33, Devonshire Street16.8.1943203050162844
486, Carlton Hill1.12.1943242650123143
Totals9513022559128187

‡ Approved by the Ministry of Health as a grant-aided nursery.
SECTION C.—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Sanitary Inspection.—Complaints were received in respect of 1,585 premises. Details of the various
nuisances detected and remedied, to the total number of 4,943, are set out in Table 5. In 1,501
cases a preliminary (intimation) notice was issued, and in 239 instances this was followed by the
* The information contained in these paragraphs relates to the period 1st January, 1948, to 4th July, 1948.