London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
East Ham 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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This important work is now centred at three clinics each of which serves
approximately the north, the centre and the south of the borough. The clinic
in the Fernhill Street Baths copes with the small riverside population south
of the "bridges".
It has long been known that considerable hardship is experienced by many
women In bringing small children to our clinics from the north-west part of
the borough, and by reason of the long distances to be traversed, the problem
presents even greater poignancy In regard to expectant mothers, and for these
reasons It is proposed to open a temporary maternity and child welfare clinic
in the vacant premises at Shrewsbury Road School, I feel sure this temporary
clinic, eventually to be replaced by clinics In the Health Centre on the
Durban House site, will be well attended and fulfil a great need.
DAY NURSERIES, 1952
TABLE 19
| Number at 31/12/52 | No. of approved places | No. of children on the register at the end of the year. | Average daily attendance during the year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | 2-5 years | 0-2 years | 2-5 years | 0-2 years | 2 -5 years | |
| 4 | 75 | 154 | 41 | 97 | 32 | 103 |
There are no Nurseries in the borough provided by Voluntary Organisations,
all nurseries being operated by the authority.
No new nurseries were opened during the year, neither were any closed,
but on 1st April, 1952, the number of places provided at the Roman Road
Nursery was reduced from 84 to 20.
The nurseries are open from Monday to Friday each week, with the exception of public Holidays, and the total attendances during 1952 were as follows :-
| Nursery | Total attendances | Average daily attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Road ( 1.1.52 - 31.3.52) | 2,475 | 38.0 |
| ( l.4.52 - 31.12.52) | 2,627 | 13.7 |
| School Road | 7,358 | 28.7 |
| St. Stephen's Road | 10,628 | 41.5 |
| Wall End/Caledon Road | 9,380 | 36.6 |
| Total | 32,468 | 126.8 |
The total attendances for 1952 decreased by 13,647 as compared with
the 1951 total of 46,115.
Comment must be made on the dwindling numbers of parents who still
find it necessary to place one or more children In a day nursery.
High wages, full employment and a greater sense of parental responsibility
have together resulted in a steady decline in the use of our day
nurseries. It is true that the Increased charges allowed under the
National Health Service Act came into force in October, but to my knowledge
only six children were withdrawn from the nurseries ostensibly by reason
of the additional charges.