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28
The number of applications seeking help and advice dropped from
84 in 1968 to 64 in 1969. This is in keeping with other areas and it is felt
that the widespread use of oral contraceptives and the rather controversial
Abortion Act 1967 are responsible for this descrease.
There are several voluntary agencies working in close co-operation
with the Medical Social Worker whose services are shared with the London
Borough of Brent. The services of the Medical Social Worker are provided
to deal with cases referred from many quarters for help which include
counselling and advice, where necessary hostel placement before and after
delivery and most important after care for both mother and child.
The trend for the year under review seems to have been for mothers to
keep their babies especially in cases where they spent the six week postnatal
period in Mother and Baby Home. However, some mothers did want
their babies fostered directly from Hospital pending adoption and these
arrangements were made.
The 64 applications received are accounted for in the following way:-
Admitted to Mother and Baby Home 23
Kept baby and made own arrangements upon
leaving Hospital 18
Cancelled application 10
Fostered from Hospital pending adoption 10
Mother arranged private adoption 3
Day Nurseries
There are two day nurseries in the Borough providing accommodation
for 110 children aged 0-5 years for whom nursery provision is required
on health grounds.
These nurseries are at:-
(a) Headstone Drive, Wealdstone 50 places
(b) Walton Avenue, South Harrow 60 places
Demand for places is high and admission is determined by a system
of priorities. In certain cases where it is considered attendance at a day
nursery would be beneficial to progress, certain handicapped children are
admitted without charge. The present categories are deaf, partially deaf,
children of deaf and dumb parents where talking environment is desirable,
children showing behaviour problems, and suitable physically handicapped
children.
Training facilities for students seeking the qualification of the
National Nursery Examination Board are now available at both nurseries
The students attend either Kilburn or Chiswick Polytechnic for their
theoretical work and carry out their practical training in the day nurseries.
Each year the number of applications for training far exceeds the posts
available.