View report page

14
preceding years. The biggest decreases were at Brighton Road,
Coulsdon, and at Kenley, with only a slight fall at Selsdon,
where in fact the number of re-examinations increased. It is
hoped that this important branch of the service will improve
considerably with the return to normal conditions.
DISTRIBUTION OF MILK, ETC.
With the Government issue of dried milk and the
almost total absence of acute poverty, the granting of special
dried milks, cod liver oil and malt, etc., free or at reduced
cost, has assumed negligible proportions. There is still,
however, a large sale of these commodities at cost price.
DENTAL TREATMENT.
The scheme for the provision of dental treatment
for ante-natal and nursing mothers and children under 5 years of
age continued throughout the year, but only 47 cases were treated,
compared with 97, 100, 85 and 67 in the four preceding years and
90 in 1938. A much more generous income scale has been adopted
since 1944 with a view to discouraging the postponement of dental
treatment in the case of children until they are of school age,
which was one of the causes of the diminished use of this
service.
DAY NURSERIES,
The two Voluntary Nurseries continued to perform
useful service, but owing to war conditions had a very difficult
time during the second half of the year. As a result the
Council increased considerably its already substantial annual
grant to each. During the early part of the year these
Nurseries were accommodating their normal total of about 60
children.
The three wartime Nurseries established at Purley
in 1942 and at Selsdon and Old Coulsdon in 1943 continued to
render good service. Normally the Purley Nursery accommodates
a maximum of 40 children, while the Selsdon and Old Coulsdon
Nurseries can each take 60 children. During the first half of
the year Purley and Old Coulsdon were kept full except during
times of epidemic, but the demand at Selsdon was never as great
ae the accommodation. By transferring up to 24 children daily
by Civil Defence ambulances the total attendance had increased
to over 50, however, when the flying bomb attack started. All
the Nurseries experienced a very trying time during this phase,
a large part of the time having to be spent in or going to and
from the shelters. The Selsdon Nursery was twice damaged
considerably by nearby bombs and the Purley Nursery to a lesser
extent, fortunately in each case when the Nurseries were empty.
Evacuation produced a considerable reduction in the number of
attendances and, to a smaller extent, in the number of staff.
On the whole the health of the children remained
good and there is nothing of note in this respect to report.
CHILD LIFE PROTECTION.
During the year 18 foster mothers were under
supervision, 23 children being distributed among them, this
being 6 fewer foster mothers and 18 fewer children than in the
preceding year.