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33
The success of these clinics will depend to a very great extent on the
regular visiting of the homes and the persuasive powers of the health
visitors.
In Section 6, the Minister points out that, in many areas, a school
clinic is available for the treatment of minor ailments and special defects
in young children, and it is desirable that such arrangements should be
more generally made. Further, that it is clearly desirable that the
Medical Officer who will supervise the health of the children after they
enter school should be responsible for their supervision during the preschool
years.
It is also suggested that, in those areas where the Maternity and
Child Welfare Authority is not the local Education Authority, it might
be possible to secure this desirable arrangement by agreement between
the two authorities.
Section 7 puts forward the suggestion that in Section 60 of the Local
Government Act, 1929, where the two authorities are separate, the local
Education Authority, by representation to the Minister, might take over
the child welfare services as part of the educational services.
Section 60 of the Local Government Act, 1929, does not apply to
London.
The Minister then goes on to state that in order to secure adequate
supervision of the health of young children it may be necessary to increase
the health visiting staff.
He also encourages the Council to consider the desirability of
establishing Day Nurseries in those districts where any considerable
number of mothers are regularly employed away from home; and, lastly,
he asks the Council to review their arrangements for the supervision of the
health of young children and to inform him as soon as possible the result
of their consideration of his Circular.
In order that the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee may
adequately consider the Minister's proposals, it is necessary for them to
know the extent of the problem.
In the Borough, the estimated number of children between the
ages of 1 and 5 is, approximately, 9,700, and this is the gross total for
which provision is to be made.