[Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Gloucestershire County Council.

  • Gloucestershire (England). County Council. n 50061360.
Date:
1969
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Gloucestershire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/98 (page 15)
    The numbers of children who attended clinics were as follows :— Children born 1969 ... ... ... ... 6,171 1968 6,609 1965 - 67 11,803 (c) Mothers’ Clubs While attempts are made to carry out group education of mothers at child health clinics, it is often for many reasons, not practicable. The local authority encourages the opening of mothers’ clubs which have a mixed programme of social and educational events by paying the rental for a suitable hall or other meeting place for the first three months. Regular meetings were held by 22 clubs during the year. (d) Distribution of Welfare Foods Welfare Foods were available at 178 Child Health Clinics (fixed and mobile), 21 shops, 4 houses and 8 part-time offices, the latter involving paid assistance. Distributions were :— National Dried Milk (Tins) Cod Liver Oil (Bottles) ... Orange Juice (Bottles) A. & D. Tablets (Packets) 15,418 (22,359) 9,068 (9,336) 159,383 (145,291) 7,453 (7,597) The 1968 figures are shown in brackets. It is interesting to note that since 1960 sales of National Dried Milk and Cod Liver Oil have pro- gressively decreased from 101,869 and 33,433 respectively. (e) Day Nurseries The 115 places at the three local authority Day Nurseries at Swindon Road and Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, and Enmore House, Kingswood, have been fully occupied during the year. The average daily attendance was 94. (f) Training of Nursery Students Of the 20 students in each year of the two year nursery nurse training course, eight received their practical training in the three day nurseries maintained by the local authority, the remainder worked in primary schools, Winchcombe Nursery School or Walton House Residential Nursery. 15 second year students were successful in gaining their N.N.E.B. certificate at the end of the course. 5. Recuperative Holiday Homes Four mothers went away for recuperative holidays accompanied by children which numbered three in all. In addition, holidays at convalsecent homes were arranged for four children under the age of five years. 6. Problem Families Thirty-eight new cases were considered by the Officers’ Co-ordinating Committees convened under the chairmanship of the Divisional Medical Officers of Health, and by the Medical Officer of Health for Cheltenham. In addition to the new cases, supervision was continued with a further 74 families who had been previously considered. It becomes increasingly apparent that adequate housing and training of the families within the home are needed. Even after a period of housecraft training at a residential home, many mothers tend to revert to old habits and the family falls into difficulties once more. There is a need for officers who can apply their talents on a daily basis, giving practical help in the home and at the same time training the family.