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 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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Work in these clinics still forms the hub of the health visitor's activities in the
community
It is true that expanding effort in the directions of care of the aged problem families
diabetic schemes and an increasing interest in mental health divert her from her primary
maternity and child welfare functions
It is inevitable that medico social problems in epidemiology and school hygiene will
daily occupy considerable portions of her working hours Yet time must be devoted to the
basic problems of mother and child care, subjects vital to the growth and happiness of the
community.
The health visitor who neglects ante-natal care has missed the zenithal opportunity for
health education and to neglect child welfare in the first year of life is to fight a
continuous rearguard action in the struggle to thrive between a sickly infant and carewarn
mother,, in a domestic atmosphere of tension and anxiety,
DAY NURSERIES 1955
TABLE 15
| Number at 31/12/55 | 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 | |
| One | 25 | 54 | 11 | 57 | 4.7 | 38.0 |
The Day Nursery at Wall End Road E 6 was closed on 23rd April 1955 leaving only
one Nursery that at St Stephens Road E.6 open The figures quoted above relate to this
latter nursery only those in respect of the Wall End Nursery being appended -
Period 1st January 23rd April,, 1955.
Number of approved places under 2 15
2 - 5 45
Number of children on register on 23. 4. 55 under 2 7
2 - 5 23
Average daily attendance for the period under 2 7.6
2 - 5 20. 1
The nurseries are open from Monday to Friday each week with the exceptions of Public Holidays, and the total attendances during 1955 were as follows
| Nursery | Total attendances | Average daily attendance |
|---|---|---|
| St, Stephen s Road | 10 „ 927 | 42.7 |
| Wall End/Caledon Road (1,1. 55 - 23 4,55) | 2, 141 | 27.7 |
| Total | 13. 068 | |
There are no Nurseries in the borough provided by Voluntary Organisations, all
nurseries being operated by the authority
The policy of closing the day nursery at Wall End Road was adopted by the Council when
it became obvious that with full employment and high wages fewer households need rely on
local authority support, and a greater number of families by their own efforts were able
to provide complete daily care for their snail children
Nevertheless day nursery provision had to be continued for some 60 or 70 children who
could not otherwise be cared for during the day And to ensure that no mother endured
hardship in bringing her child to the nursery transport has been provided in the morning
and evening for every child resident at a distance from the nursery.