London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Romford 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Romford]

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The 1,269 children born in 1960 who attended the Clinics during
the year represents 62% of the total number born, after taking into
account the fact that mothers of babies born in the last two weeks
of the year could scarcely have had an opportunity of taking their babies
along to a clinic in that year.
Distribution of Welfare Foods. Welfare foods were distributed
from the Clinics, the Health Department, and 16 shops during the
year. The following table shows the number of items distributed in
1960:—
National Dried Milk 44,038 tins
Cod Liver Oil 7,663 bottles
Vitamin Tablets (A & D) 7,779 packets
Orange Juice 75,968 bottles
Day Nurseries. There are two 30-place Nurseries, and one
40-place Nursery in the Area, and the following gives the combined

attendances at all three Nurseries during the year:—

No. on RegisterAvge. Daily Attendances
January11783.3
February11486.4
March12393.1
April12592.5
May133103.9
June131100.1
July12790.5
August13582.3
September12695.4
October13296.4
November137100.7
December13292.5

Romford's Day Nursery Service originated during the war years
to look after children whose mothers were contributing to the war
effort, but was developed and maintained afterwards to care for children
of mothers obliged to work for a living away from home.
Top priority for admission is given to the children of widows,
widowers, a parent separated, divorced or deserted, an unmarried
mother, or a mother working because of her husband's disablement.
Other priorities include admissions due to illness of either parent,
including confinement of mother, and children of mothers in employment
highly essential to communal needs, such as school teachers,
nurses, etc.
Priority is given also to children recommended for admission by
medical practitioners.
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