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21
The incidence of infectious disease was not high during
the year, a number of cases of whooping cough and measles
occurred, and at one nursery a mild type of dysentery became
prevalent. This was effectively suppressed in collaboration
with the Central Laboratory at Colindale and by the admission
of known cases and carriers to the Isolation Hospital.
All the nurseries have now been approved by the Ministry
of Health as training schools for student nurses. In addition
to the vocational training the students receive at the nursery,
they must also spend two whole days each week at the Hendon
Technical College. There they receive both theoretical and
practical training in infant welfare and the care of children,
the subjects taught including physiology, hygiene, biology,
needlecraft, simple cookery, etc. In the nurseries, the Matrons
help the students in a practical way to understand what they
learn at College. The course is now one of two years' duration,
and candidates must be 18 years of age before sitting the
examination. Difficulty has been experienced in finding
sufficient places at the Technical College for the number of
student nurses under training.
Courses have been held for more senior members of the
staff during the year, and six of the Wardens were sent to a
Refresher Course of three weeks at Tottenham Technical
College in November. They benefited greatly from this
Course and the effects were reflected in a higher standard
within the Nurseries. The Nursery Schools' Association have
also inaugurated a Course for Matrons of Day Nurseries, and
arrangements are being made to send all Matrons in turn to
this Course. Whatever the future of the Day Nursery service
may be, whether it is considered more a social than a public
health service, its popularity is undoubted, and there is a long
waiting list for admission at each Day Nursery.
The following table shows the position and accommodation
at each Nursery:—