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5
Daring the war years the Council has continued its arrangement
with the Essex County Nursing Association for domiciliary
midwifery in the eastern part of the Borough; and it is gratifying
to record the satisfactory and cordial spirit of co-operation which
exists between the Council and the Matron and midwifery staff
of the Association.
The two War-time Day Nurseries have been maintained
during the year. Acting on suggestions contained in Ministry of
Health Circular S.R.O. No. 123, it was no longer considered
necessary to keep the nurseries open so long as during the war
period; and since October, 1945, the hours have been 8 a.m. to
5.30 p.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
School Medical Service.
In my previous Annual Report I pointed out that some 3,416
Leyton schoolchildren were in reception areas. By July, 1945
those schoolchildren who had been evacuated to reception areas
under the Government Evacuation Scheme had returned to
Leyton.
After the initial wholesale evacuation of school children at
the outbreak of war, normal full-time schooling was resumed in
July, 1940. For the whole of the war period, in spite of shortage
of staff and other difficulties, the school medical service has been
maintained, and nutritional surveys have disclosed no appreciable
deterioration in general nutrition when compared with the prewar
years. As the result of intensive bombing, destruction of
dwellings, overcrowding at home and in public shelters etc., it is
no matter for surprise that there has been a fall in standards of
cleanliness and an increase in skin infections. In other respects
the school child appears to have lost none of the physical gains
acquired during pre-war years. There can be no doubt that the
provision of school meals and milk has had a most salutary effect
in preserving the health and nutrition of school children during
the war years.
In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act,
1944, the County Council became the Local Education Authority
on 1st April, 1945; and has delegated the actual school medical
service arrangements to the medical, dental, nursing and specialist
staff of the former Leyton Education Authority. By so doing it
has been possible to preserve that continuity of medical supervision
which is so desirable.