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DAY NURSERY.
cd Miss W. J. Vigar, Matron.
f Miss E. A. Weller, Staff Nurse.
f Miss E. Martin Assistant Nurses.
f Miss D. Sawdon.
c State Registered Nurse.
d State Certified Midwife.
f Certificate of Day Nursery Training.
The year 1937 marks a year of progress.
The Clinics already established in 1936 and the two extra Clinics,
St. John's and St. Alphege Church Halls, have proved to be of immense
value. The attendances at these two extra Clinics varied at first between
50 and 60 per session, but by the end of 1937 the average attendances were
80 per session.
Taking into account the extra Clinics and the increased attendances, it
can be readily seen that our Service is now more widespread and patronised
by a greater number of mothers. On account of this it naturally follows
that there is a demand for increase of Staff. It is the intention of the
Council to establish yet another Clinic at Weir Hall, and other Clinics as the
circumstances demand. It is also hoped at some future date to replace the
Church Halls by permanent buildings, and permanent Clinics will allow a
greater degree of welfare and propaganda work to be carried out.
The Toddlers' question, which was scarcely touched a few years ago, is
gradually receiving more attention, and the mothers are responding to the
call in this direction. It is very important to impress upon the mothers the
necessity of children over two years of age attending the Clinics, and it is no
mean task to induce the majority to bring their children once they have
reached the Toddler stage. The idea is still too prevalent amongst our mothers
that once a child is walking it does not need any further attention, and this
fact clearly shows the necessity for propaganda. The dental and orthopaedic
work amongst the children is still very difficult, on account of the irregular
attendances of the Toddlers.
There is a tendency to an increase in the demand for the services of the
dentists amongst the mothers and children, and in a short time we shall need
another session in order to adequately perform these very important duties.
We have more than once mentioned that quite a large percentage of the
difficulties experienced in school dentistry is due to lack of attention during
the pre-school child period.
The proportion of visits to the homes this year are somewhat restricted,
instructions having been issued to the Health Visitors that where they are
satisfied that a mother is good and careful and regular in her attendance at
the Clinic, there is not the same necessity to visit her home as there is in the
case of the careless mother. More attention has been given to the latter
type, but we are yet far from attaining perfection amongst a small number.
It is often, however, the father who causes difficulty rather than the
mother, and it is to be hoped that, with the addition of Staff, a Paternity and
Child Welfare Service could be started in the Borough. We could introduce
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