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Circular 42/68 issued by the Department of Health and Social Security drew
particular attention to the provisions of the Poisons (No. 2) Rules, 1968, concerning
the prescription, labelling, storage, and inspection of oral contraceptives. Confirmation
that the Association's arrangements met the requirements of these provisions
was obtained from the local branch of the Family Planning Association, who act
as agents for the Council as far as medical cases are concerned.
Day Nurseries
There is one 55-place day nursery in the borough and this is approved for the
training of student nursery nurses. Children can also be placed at other local
authority day nurseries where this arrangement is more appropriate and use is made
of day nurseries in the nighbouring authorities of Haringey, Barnet and Hertfordshire.
In the Ten-Year Plan, provision is made for two new 55-place day nurseries and
for the replacement of the present day nursery in Fore Street, which is housed in
adapted premises. Each nursery will incorporate a 10-place nursery unit for
mentally sub-normal infants. Regrettably, however, the Minister of Health was not
able to include any day nursery projects in the schemes approved for the years
1968 to 1971.
The standard of accommodation in the Council's day nursery conforms, as far
as the structural limitations of the building and site area allow, to that recommended
by the Ministry of Health.
At the end of the year 58 children were on the attendance roll, the categories
into which they fell being: unsupported mothers, 35; mother's ill-health, 4;
financial circumstances. 8; handicapped children, 6; unsatisfactory home conditions,
2; and motherless children, 3. At that time sixteen children were on the waiting list.
Twenty mothers, who had applied for places for their children in a day nursery,
had made other arrangements by the time places could be offered.
In Ministry of Health Circular 18/67 it was indicated that the recommendations
regarding the protection of organised groups of children—such as children cared
for in local health authority's day nurseries—against the risk of infection by adults
suffering from tuberculosis had been reviewed, and authorities were recommended to
require a routine schedule of chest X-rays of staff. In order to comply with these
recommendations it was necessary only to extend the requirements of the Council in
respect of chest X-rays of staff, and arrangements were made accordingly.
In May the Council initiated a scheme for the placement of handicapped
children with private pre-school play groups and day nurseries, free of charge to
the parents. Seven children were placed in this way.
In Ministry of Health Circular 37/68 the provision of day care facilities for
children under five was reviewed and local health authorities were asked to consider
the extent to which these facilities could be expanded for children in the priority
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