London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Richmond upon Thames 1970

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]

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special training in child development and the majority of medical officers have attended
courses to help them in this work.
Dental Treatment—Expectant and Nursing Mothers and Young Children
Mr. G. H. Tucker, L.D.S. R.C.S., Chief Dental Officer, reports as follows:—
The number of attendances and the amount of treatment given during the year
is shown in Tables I and II which follow:—

Table I.

Pre-School Children

Examined at clinic600
Requiring treatment274
Commenced treatment264
Attendances for treatment613
Fillings inserted365
Extractions146
General Anaesthetics72

Table II.

Expectant and Nursing Mothers

Examined96
Requiring treatment81
Commenced treatment79
Attendances for treatment193
Fillings inserted122
Extractions48
Gum treatment23
General Anaesthetics7
Dentures supplied8
X-rays taken12

The figures in the above tables show very little change from the previous year
(although 19 less sessions were required to complete treatment) in spite of continued
efforts by health visitors and departmental medical officers to encourage mothers to
bring their pre-school children for inspection.

Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948

The following table gives details of the registrations during 1970:—

Day Nurseries.Child-Minders.
NumberPlacesNumberPlaces
1st January, 1970681724168796
New Registrations1024079167
Cancellations611730178
31st December, 197072*1847217*785

* There were during the year variations in the permitted
number of children which are not reflected above.
Daily Minders
There were several cancellations during the year of registered daily minders taking
the higher numbers of children for all-day care. This in some cases was for economic
reasons. The Department of Health and Social Security's general recommendation
that no woman without assistance should mind more than 3 children under the age of
five years is an excellent one; this, however, has restricted new applicants who are loathe
to increase costs by employing an assistant. Therefore, this year, in spite of an increase
in. the number of registrations, our number of places for children has been reduced.
Discussion has taken place about the provision of suitable courses for child minders.
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