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28
There is a general tendency throughout the Borough
to value the work of Health Visitors more as time goes
on. It is a rare event now-a-days for a Health Visitor
to be refused admission to a home, thereby showing that
the valuable advice which Health Visitors are in a position
to give is being appreciated more and more.
War-time Nurseries.
At the time of writing the report two War-Time Nurseries
have been established, and preparations for two
others are being made. Women who are now in industry
find these nurseries of great help, and no doubt as time
goes on the scheme will be extended.
Other methods by which young children can be cared
for are under the Government Daily Guardian Scheme.
The Dagenham Day Foster Mother Scheme has been in
operation for several years and is similar in nearly every
respect to the government arrangements for daily minding.
The Education Committee has recently commenced
nursery classes, and details are now being prepared for
the establishment of such classes at a large proportion
of the infant schools in the Borough.
Supervision of Miciwives.
The number of Midwives who notified their intention
to practise during the year 1941 was 33, and the
number practising at the end of the year was 23. The
routine inspection and special investigations are undertaken
by the Medical Officer of Health.
In the table below it will be noted that although the
number of births was only very slightly less than that for
the preceding year the medical aid notices issued fell
from 424 to 351. This may be explained by the fact
that a Senior Midwife was appointed and took up duty in