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OCCASIONAL CRECHES
An experiment to allow mothers to leave their children in an occasional creche free of
charge, on production of documentary evidence that they had a hospital appointment at the material
time, was started by the former London County Council and continued by Camden in 1965. Loss of
income during the experimental period amounted to only £11, and the arrangement is now to be continued
permanently.
Six additional creche sessions have been started during the year, at Daleham Gardens,
Kentish Town and Solent M. & C.W. Centres; the playgroup previously run by the Save the Children
Fund, concurrently with the Mothers' Club at Hampstead Wells M.& C.W. Centre, was taken over as
an occasional creche at the request of the voluntary organisation, who were unable to supply a play
leader after July.
The provision of these facilities is obviously greatly appreciated by parents. Occasional
creches provide an opportunity for children to socialise with their peers and offer a welcome respite
for the parents from the constant demands of their children. In all 1,348 creche sessions were held
in 1966 and there were 20,009 attendances of which 5,343 were free of charge. The average attendance
per session was 15.
OBSERVATION AND HANDICAP REGISTER
The early recognition of congenital and chronic handicaps in children depends on the introduction
of paediatric screening examinations of all babies and young children to detect developmental
delay. Children so identified can be referred to the hospital service for investigation, comprehensive
assessment and treatment. Assessment of handicap is a continuing process, and treatment
must include community services for the training, recreation and education of the handicapped child
and counselling and support of his parents.
Developmental screening of all children attending the Borough's child welfare clinics at
key ages is now an accepted practice. All doctors taking part in this work were given the opportunity
to attend a short training course in developmental paediatrics in April 1966. The speakers included
Dr. Mary Sheridan, O.B.E., Research Fellow, Newcomen Clinic for Handicapped Children, Guys
Hospital; Dr. Dorothy Egan, part-time Paediatric Consultant to the Borough and Medical Liaison
Officer, Newcomen Clinic, Guys Hospital; Dr. Isadore Friedman, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Royal
Eye Hospital; and Mr. L. Fisch, Consultant Otologist, Nuffield Hearing and Speech Centre.
All handicapped children are included in the Register, which is periodically reviewed by
Dr. Audrey Trevor Evans, Principal Medical Officer (MCW), to ensure a continuous follow-up and to
plan in advance the services necessary for every handicapped child. In addition, all babies suspected
to be 'at risk' of handicap, because of family history of major handicap or because of adverse factors
occurring in pregnancy, labour or the puerperium, are entered on the Register, and steps are taken
to ensure that they are followed-up by health visitors and encouraged to attend the centres for periodic
developmental screening examinations.
Number of children under 5 years of age on Register on 31st December, 1966 - 2,701.
Number of children under 5 with diagnosed handicaps on 31st December, 1966 (included in
the above) - 281.
Number of children with congenital abnormalities detected at birth and reported to the
Registrar-General - 102.
The special clinic for retarded children held at Barnes House M. & C.W. Centre was transferred
to the Kentish Town M. & C.W. Centre in June 1966. A second special session of this kind
was opened at the same time at Daleham Gardens M. & C.W. Centre.
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