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67
MATERNITY AND NURSING HOMES.
The number of Nursing Homes on the register at the beginning
of the year was one, which was closed down during the year by the
owner.
Number of applications for registration Nil
Hospitals exempt from registration 1
(i.e., The Prince of Wales's General Hospital).
Number on the register at the end of the year Nil
(excluding exemptions)
DENTAL TREATMENT FOR MOTHERS AND
CHILDREN.
The number of expectant and nursing mothers who have received
dental treatment during the year was 531. Of these 431 were antenatal
and 100 post-natal cases, all of whom were rendered dentally
fit by fillings where preservation was possible; and otherwise, by
extraction under local or general anaesthesia.
Seventy-seven mothers were supplied with artificial dentures,
12 of whom were in the scale for free dentures and 65 contributed
part of the cost.
Treatment of children under 5 continued as in previous years
and 318 consultations with 450 treatments were made.
The dental service for mothers and young children is undertaken
by the dental officers appointed by the Education Committee,
one-third of the cost of a dentist "unit" being contributed by the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee. The growth in recent
years of the number of young children requiring conservative treatment
and the increasing popularity of this service raised the question
of adequacy in the number of dental officers, numbering three,
appointed by the Local Authority. In the post-war review of this
service, a strong case can be made for the appointment of an additional
dental officer for maternity and child welfare work alone.
NURSERY PROVISION.
During the year the premises of the war-time nurseries at Vale
Road, Downhills and Parkhurst were returned to the Education
Committee for their pre-war use as a nursery school and nursery
classes. The remaining five day nurseries have continued to work
to full capacity and with a waiting list of children.