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2
CHILD LIFE PROTECTION.
As a result of the war. several of the children were evacuated
to reception areas under the Government Scheme. This correspondingly
reduced the number of foster mothers on the register. 158 home
visits were paid to foster mothers during the year, compared with
185 during 1938. The number of foster mothers on the register at
the end of 1939 was 28 as compared with 47 in 1938.
MUNICIPAL MEDICAL CENTRE AND DAY NURSERY, PARK LANE.
A full report of the planning and construction of this building
was given in my report for 1938. The work of construction continued
steadily throughout the year and was, to some extent, held up
by the outbreak of the war. However, by the end of the year, the
work was practically completed, and the new buildings were officially
opened on Saturday, March 9th 1940.
SPECIAL CLINICS FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS.
All the specialist clinics of the School Medical Service were
available to these children and the attendances during the year
were 2028 as compared with 2354 during 1938. In view of evacuation
this figure is remarkably high and attendances at dental clinics
were almost twice as many as during the previous year.
DAY NURSERIES.
On September 1st, 1939,the Day Nursery in West Green Road was
evacuated, en bloc, to Alconbury House, near Huntingdon, which accommodated
36 children. The Nursery soon became acclimatised and the
children benefited greatly by their stay in the country. General
administrative control was retained by the Tottenham Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee and medical attention was given by local
practitioners and numerous visits were paid by the Committee's Medical
Officers. All the children were immunised against diphtheria.
The general health of the children has been very good.
The new Day Nursery in Park Lane, Tottenham, will open early
in 1940 and will provide accommodation for 50 children. Increased
demands for these facilities are expected as a result of mothers
having to undertake various kinds of war work.
TODDLERS CLINICS.
These were continued during 1939. In all,51 medical sessions
were held as compared with 31 in 1938, and attendances numbered 700
against 294 in 1938.' The routine examination of toddlers for gross
errors of refraction is now regularly undertaken, but sufficient
data are not yet available for a full report in this work to be made.
PROVISION OF REFUGE FOR CHILDREN LOST AS RESULT OF AIR RAIDS.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH CIRCULAR 1900.
In accordance with the above Circular, provisions have been
made to receive children separated from their parents as the result
of air raids. Rooms have been set aside at the Welfare Centres for
this purpose, and stretcherbeds blankets, food and other necessities
have been made available .
On the occurrence of raids, Health Visitors will proceed to
these centres, and will prepare them for the reception of such children
who may require temporary refuge.
It is not intended that children should remain at these refuges
for an indefinite period and should it become necessary for them to
be cared for, for a longer period, other measures will have to be
taken.