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There are probably about 4,000 women employed in the
laundry industry, and possibly one-half of these are married.
There are only two organisations in the district which deal with thc
children between the ages of 1 and 5. The Day Nursery in South
Acton receives children up to the age of 5, but the Day Nursery
has accommodation for only 40 children, and it is unreasonable
to expect the Committee to extend their operations without a hope
and promise of a larger subscription list.
Attempts are also made by the Health Visitor to continue the
supervision commenced during the first year until the children are
of school age, and last year 34 children between the ages of 1 and
5 years regularly attended the Infant Consultation at the Priory
School. If this could be extended, some control would be available
for a large number of children under school age. It is not
suggested that the children should undergo any medical examination,
but in most cases advice is required as to feeding, clothing,
etc., from time to time.
The alternative suggested to the Infant Consultations has
been the Nursery School. The advantage of the former would be
in the fact that home visits could be paid to selected cases, and
it is also generally admitted that children under 5 should remain
at home under the care of their mothers whenever possible. It is
possible to combine both and limit the Nursery School to children
whose mothers are away from their homes. The organisation
of a Nursery School would differ in many ways from that of an
ordinary elementary school, and these schools are intended to
supplement the care which should be given at home.
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACT, 1907.
1,456 live births and 44 still births were notified during the
year.
44 births were registered that had not been notified within
the statutory period.
579 births were notified by doctors, 729 by registered midwives,
150 by parents and 42 by nurses.
In 39 instances the birth was notified by the doctor and the
midwife, and in 5 instances by the doctor and the parent.
66.5 per cent. of the births notified were visited by the
Health Visitor.