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26
Expectant and
nursing mothers
Children aged
under 5 years
No. examined in 1965
No. who commenced treatment in 1965
No. of courses of treatment completed
in 1965
Treatment
Scalings and gum treatment
Fillings
Silver nitrate treatment
Crowns and inlays
Extractions
General anaesthetics
Dentures provided
- full upper or lower
- partial upper or lower
Radiographs
567
422
207
174
1, 271
124
1
336
3
49
78
27
809
455
421
1,044
344
35
4
1
DAY NURSERIES
There are seven nurseries in the Borough, the great majority of admissions
being of children whose mothers are unable to care for them for reasons of illness
or confinement, and alternative provision cannot be made, and where mothers,
who are the sole support of their children, must go to work.
The special scheme of admission for certain categories of handicapped
children which originated with the London County Council has been continued and
is of very valuable assistance in providing stimulating, stable surroundings
for a small number of those with a hearing loss, or hearing children born to
deaf parents, also a few showing retardation of mental development. In the
last type of child, admission provides short respites for the mothers from their
constant wearing task of caring for difficult children. It is surprising how
helpful the time spent in the day nursery has been to the children themselves,
although the considerable extra work for the staff dealing with them should not
be overlooked. The majority of handicapped children attend part-time only.
During 1965, major internal alterations have been proceeding at Sun Babies
Nursery as the premises were out of date and very dilapidated. The nursery
continued to receive children while the work was going on until the weather
became very cold, and conditions became unsuitable for children, and impossible
for the staff to work. It was then decided to transfer the nursery temporarily
to part of the first floor accommodation, which was vacant, at Shoreditch Health
Centre. The number of children admitted had to be kept lower than normal
owing to reduced space, but this was inevitable. The renovations were not
nearly complete at the end of the year, but it is hoped that the nursery will
be able to re-open in improved premises during 1966. The Matron and staff
deserve high praise for the cheerful way in which they accepted the task of
working for many months in difficult circumstances.
The staffing of the day nurseries is becoming increasingly difficult.
For senior posts the response to advertisements is poor both in quantity and
quality of the applicants, and recruitment of girls for training for the
certificate of the Nursery Nurses Examination Board has also become more
difficult.
OCCASIONAL CRECHES
The Creches are provided for the minding of children for a period of three
hours while the mother is attending hospital or the clinic, or in certain cases
for other reasons. A small charge may be made for this service.