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13
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Every local health authority makes arrangements for the care of expectant and nursing mothers and
children who have not attained the age of 5 years and who are not attending primary schools maintained by the
local education authority.
Advice on the feeding, hygiene and general management of the infant was made available at 13
centres throughout the Borough.
These sessions have a high educational value and are much appreciated by the young nursing mother,
who requires sympathetic guidance and encouragement with her new responsibilities.
Particular attention is paid to the developmental progress of each child and special surveillance
instituted when any deviations from the normal are noted.
Sample screening tests are performed; geared to the detection of defects in children at an early age.
The changing pattern of confinement away from the domiciliary confinement to delivery in hospital
with or without early discharge home continued during the year proportionately and was associated with a
corresponding decrease change in the pattern of ante-natal care of the expectant mother.

On the recommendation of the Department of Health and Social Security routine smallpox vaccination
of young children was discouraged but the staff continued to advise parents to take advantage of all other
prophylaxis offered.
Cervical Cytology
The sessions for screening for cervical cancer operating at Kilburn Square and London Road Clinics
and at the Chalkhill Health Centre were well attended. Mothers attending the Borough's birth control clinics
were also offered this service. The number of patients who availed themselves of this service was 1,036.
Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act 1948
As Amended by the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968
The number of persons registered as child minders increased to 460 at the end of the year. There was
also a number of removals. The registration of premises for private nurseries and play groups totalled 65.
PRIORITY DENTAL SERVICE
(Table 5)
Report of the Chief Dental Officer
"Little satisfaction can be enjoyed from reviewing the priority dental service. The word 'priority'
apparently only has meaning for the Health Authorities, their dental staffs and the comparatively small number
of parents seeking treatment for themselves and their young children. Large numbers of children under school
age receive no dental treatment other than emergency from any of the services available, a fact all too
apparent when teeth are inspected at the first school inspection. Because dental disease is insidious and seldom
dramatic, it is frequently undetected by parents and even when observed may be considered unimportant or
even a natural process in young children. We are grateful to those parents who do care about the dental health
of their children and hope that they will also try to persuade others to seek early advice and treatment. Treatment
is carried out with modern equipment in modern clinics, is free and immediately available".