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Home Helps available is seldom, if ever, able to meet requirements.
It will also be appreciated that our Home Helps come and go with
disturbing frequency, being drawn from that section of the community
which is not particularly interested in long-term employment.
This will be seen from the fact that the number of
resignations from the Home Help Service during 1953 was 27. Yet
another difficulty lies in the fact that most of our Home Helps are
married and have their own children, all of whom are liable to the
illnesses associated with childhood. When this happens, the Home
Help Organiser is liable to find herself without a number of Home
Helps, at a time when these are most required. Continuous steps
are taken to implement the number of women used in this service,
since there can be no doubt that the Home Help Service does
supply a very definite need.
The matter of payment for services rendered is dealt with by
the Finance Department, while there is a Panel which meets
regularly to consider appeals.
11. Day Nurseries
Two Day Nurseries were available in the Area at the beginning
of 1953. Both were 50 place Nurseries, and comprised a
training Nursery in Wood Green (White Hart Lane) and a nontraining
Nursery in Southgate (Hoppers Road).
Changes in Policy relating to conditions of admission and
charges resulted in a continued fall in the number of cases attending
these Nurseries. It was therefore decided to close Hoppers Road
Day Nursery, closure taking place on 30th October, 1953.
At the end of the year five children under the age of two and
35 children between the ages of two and five were on the register
of White Hart Lane Day Nursery. At that time, the Nursery
employed an equivalent of whole-time non-domestic staff,
together with three part-time domestic staff.
Having regard to all relevant circumstances, I am of opinion,
that one Day Nursery will continue to be required in the Area. The
site on which White Hart Lane Day Nursery stands—the site is
owned by Wood Green Borough Council—is eminently suited to
this purpose.
12. Immunisation
I have already reported in some detail in a previous report
on the position in regard to immunisation against diphtheria,
pertussis (whooping cough) or diphtheria and pertussis combined.
I will therefore confine myself to stating that, during 1953, 1,953
children were protected for the first time against diphtheria alone or
against diphtheria and pertussis combined. In addition, 4,372
children were given reinforcing injections, mostly in the schools.
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