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The Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, School and Antenatal
Clinics and Tuberculosis Dispensary are provided and
controlled by the Surrey County Council. The Day Nursery is
provided by the Council.
DAY NURSERY.
The Day Nursery is situated at the rear of the
Council Offices and is administered by the Borough
Council. Under the Public Health Act, 1936, which
came into force on 1st October, 1937, the Surrey County
Council became responsible for all Maternity and Child
Welfare Services in the Borough and at the end of the
year the future of the Nursery was still in doubt. The
use of the Nursery is confined to mothers who, by force
of circumstances, are compelled to go to work and leave
their children. It has thus fulfilled a very useful social
service in the district for many years. In addition to
general care, good feeding and medical supervision, the
development of the older children is assisted by training
on nursery school lines. The work of the Nursery since
its inception has been carried out under difficult conditions
in a wooden hut which is nearing the end of its
existence and which cannot be expected to serve its purpose
much longer. A site for a new nursery was purchased
in 1935, but the scheme is held in abeyance
pending the resolution of present uncertainties.
The normal staff consists of a Matron, a senior nurse
and two probationers. The Nursery is open from 8 a.m.
to 6 p.m. except on Saturdays and Sundays. Mothers
pay tenpence daily per child or sixpence per half a day
with a graduated scale for more than one child.
During the year the Nursery was open on 236 days
arid there were 2,956 attendances.
HEALTH EDUCATION.
A national drive for education in health matters and
for the better use of the health services was instituted
in the autumn by the Minister of Health. In Surrey a
special scheme was organized by the Central Council for