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
Ilford 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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55
Nurseries and Child-minders Regulations Act, 1948.—This Act
which came into operation in August. 1948, requires, inter alia, that every
local health authority shall keep registers—
(a) of premises in their area, other than premises wholly or mainly
used as private dwellings, where children are received to be looked
after for the day or a substantial part thereof or for any longer
period not exceeding six days;
(b) of persons in their area who for reward receive into their homes
children under the age of five to be looked after as aforesaid.
The following shows the position regarding registrations under the Act:—
| (a) Premises | (b) Child-minders | |
|---|---|---|
| Number on register at 31/12/49 | Nil | 5 |
| Number registered during 1950 | 2 | 2 |
| Number on register at 31/12/50 | 2 | 5 |
| Number of children provided for at 31/12/50 | 65 | 36 |
Clinic. Premises.—Work commenced in June. 1950, on the erection
of the new Health Services Clinic in Manford Way, Hainault, to serve
the Ilford. Dagenham and Forest Health Areas, and I am pleased to be
able to report that the building was completed by July of this year.
Pending the erection of these premises, a temporary Clinic was opened in
two houses rented from the London County Council, Nos. 30/32. Elmbridge
Road, Hainault, at the end of February, 1950. and continued in
operation until the transfer to the new Manford Way Clinic on the 18th
July, 1951.
Infant Welfare Centres.—95 voluntary lady helpers were engaged
in the work at the Infant Welfare Centres at the end of December, 1950.
During the year the following attendances were recorded:—
Total number of attendances of infants 43,402
First attendances 2,490
Attendances of children from 1 to 5 years 13,062
Total number of children on roll, December 31st, after
omission of all those who had not attended for six months 3,894
The following is a comparison of the attendances at the Infant Welfare Centres for the past five years:—
| 1949 | 43,668 | 2,621 | 3,697 |
| 1948 | 49,444 | 2,641 | 3,712 |
| 1947 | 49,690 | 3,133 | 4,146 |
| 1946 | 46,620 | 2,886 | 4,049 |
From the above table it will be seen that the total attendances in
1950 decreased by 266 compared with 1949, but as there were 131 less
first attendances than in 1949, due to a smaller number of infants born,
it can be said that there has been an overall slight improvement in attend-
dances.
710 sessions were held during the year; the average attendance at
each session being 57 mothers with their infants.