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Assessed Daily Charge
The maximum charge per day was increased from 9/- to 13/- from the 9th April. Of the 100
children who were paying 9/- per day at that time 44 children were removed from the nurseries because of
the increased charge; 12 mothers gave up work entirely but the remainder made other arrangements for the
care of their children (Table 75).
Applicants unable to pay the assessed charges can appeal at a meeting of the Appeals Sub-committee.
The final assessments are shown in Table 76 (October, 1956).
Attendances
Most of the day nurseries were used up to their full capacity. (Table 72).
Infectious Diseases
Two nurseries had outbreaks of dysentery and a few nurseries had outbreaks of measles and german
measles during the year. There were a few more cases of infectious diseases involving one or two children who
contracted their infection in their own homes from other members of the family (Table 77).
Christmas Parties
Christmas parties were held in all the day nurseries, with a special tea, a toy for each child, and an
entertainment. The County Council gave 3/- a head for each child attending the nursery towards the
Christmas celebrations.
The Mayor gave toys from the Borough Christmas Tree for distribution to needy families attending
the day nurseries.
Staff
The staff is based on one non-domestic for every three children under 2 and one for eight children
over 2, but the total must not exceed one for every five children in the nursery. Two students are counted
as one trained staff.
The number of staff employed during the year varied according to the number of children on the
registers and the establishment and position at the end of the year is shown in (Table 78).
The number of nurseries approved as training schools for the 2-year Nursery Examination Board
Course was reduced; only 5 nurseries are now approved. The students attend Chiswick Polytechnic for
two days weekly. 14 students were in training during the year and 3 of them obtained the N.N.E.B. certificate.
The remaining 11 students have not yet completed their training period.
CONVALESCENCE
Under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, patients may be recommended for a short
term stay in a convalescent holiday home. Normally these patients are those recovering from a serious illness
or operation, and require only rest, fresh air and good food to complete treatment.
Applications are received from Private Practitioners, Hospitals and from Clinics, and approved
recommendations are forwarded to the County Medical Officer who arranges homes suitable to the individual
cases.
If a reduction in the standard charge of £4 14s. 6d. is required applicants have to complete an
economic circumstances form and they are assessed by the Divisional Finance Officer. A request may also
be made for payment of travelling expenses.
Number of recommendations:—
Adults 139
Children 23
162
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE (Tables 79-94)
Routine Medical Inspection (Tables 79-84).
As the Minister of Education has made changes in medical inspection returns beginning 1st January,
1956, the tables are in a different form from previous years. The former "Classification of the general
condition of pupils" has been replaced by "Classification of the physical condition", and only two categories
" Satisfactory " and " Unsatisfactory " are provided.
The Minister of Education is making a further study of tonsillectomy, first obtaining information on
the tonsillectomy rate. Medical Officers are recording at medical inspections those children who have had
tonsillectomy (Table 84).