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emergency treatment. It is unfortunate, however, that so many parents who are well aware of the value of
a correct diet medically and dentally, and equally well aware of the dangers of cariogenic foodstuffs, permit
the consumption of such items with little regard for oral hygiene and seem content to leave it to the dental
profession to repair the ensuing damage to the teeth. It cannot be over-emphasised that the dentist can only
repair caries damage, not cure it.
PREVENTION OF BREAK-UP OF FAMILIES
Families in need of extra or specialised support remain an urgent priority group. Work in depth is
undertaken in co-operation with officers in other departments.
Families in need of long-term intensive support and guidance are referred by all agencies and departments
to the Family Service Unit, each request being channelled through the Health Visiting Service.
During 1969, seven new cases were accepted by the Unit for such intensive case work, no cases were
closed, and the case load at the end of the year was 45 families.
The office of the Brent Branch was transferred to the Methodist Church Hall, 2, Tavistock Road,
Harlesden. The Council made a grant of £4,000 to the Unit in the financial year 1969/70, and also a grant
of £100 towards the cost of the removal from 8, Neasden Lane to Harlesden.
DAY NURSERIES
(Tables 6 and 7)
The demand for admission to the Council's twelve day nurseries has continued at a high level. The
standard charge remained at 17/6d. per child per day with a minimum charge of 1/- per day.
Sixteen students completed their two-year period of training and all obtained the N.N.E.B. Certificate.
Five nursery nurses attended a two-week Course for qualified and experienced nursery staff at Chiswick
Polytechnic. Two matrons attended the Annual Conference of the National Association of Nursery Matrons.
On 17th January, 1969, three day nursery projects were approved by the Home Office for inclusion
in the first Phase of the Urban Programme which expires on 31st March, 1970, viz. Vale Farm Nursery Phase
II—improvement of toilet and cloakroom facilities for children aged 1—5, replacement of solid fuel boilers
by gas fired, and enlargement of kitchen at an estimated cost of £12,500; Mortimer Road — improvement of
washing and cloakroom facilities for children, improvement of staff toilet accommodation, building of new
playroom, and re-wiring at a cost of £11,070; Princes Avenue—provision of additional cloakroom and improvement
of existing toilet and cloakroom accommodation for children aged 1—5, and provision of covered
play space at a cost of £7,420. The work at Mortimer Road and Princes Avenue commenced in April and
was completed in October, and that at Vale Farm commenced in July and will be completed early in 1970.
New admissions were discontinued prior to the commencement of the works, and in the case of Vale Farm
and Mortimer Road the registers were slowly run down, staff vacancies were not filled, and the nurseries
were closed whilst the works were in progress. The remaining staff were temporarily transferred to fill
vacancies in other Nurseries.
The building of the 50-place nursery within the Neighbourhood Centre Scheme at the junction of
Harlesden Road and Longstone Avenue was delayed owing to difficulties experienced by the lowest tenderer.
The Council decided to invite new tenders for the whole Scheme and eventually work commenced on 18th
August, 1969, and is due for completion in June 1971. The estimated cost of the nursery is £48,900 and furniture
£7,000.
The Council at their meeting in November approved proposals submitted by the Borough Architect
for the provision of a 50-place nursery in the Chalkhill Redevelopment Area at an estimated cost of £54,250
including furniture. The proposals were submitted to the Department of Health and Social Security for cost
limit approval.
CARE OF THE UNSUPPORTED MOTHER AND HER CHILD
(Table 8)
Residential accommodation for ante- and post-natal periods is provided by the Council in "Bellevue"
Mother and Baby Home which accommodates 12 mothers and 12 babies. Use was also made of similar homes
run by other local authorities and voluntary organisations. The services of a Medical Social Worker are provided
to deal with cases referred from many quarters for help, which includes counselling and advice, where
necessary hostel placement before and after delivery, and, most important, after-care for both mother and
child. The services of the Medical Social Worker are shared with the London Borough of Harrow.
"Bellevue" was full for most of the year. There was a slight decrease in admissions although the
average length of stay during the post-natal period increased from 34 days in 1968 to 40 days in 1969. The
average length of stay during the ante-natal period was 30 days which is in line with most other mother and
baby homes.
The trend for the year under review seems to have been for mothers to keep their babies, especially
in the cases where they spent the six week post-natal period in a mother and baby home. However, some
mothers wanted their babies fostered directly from hospital pending adoption, and these arrangements were
made.