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CARE OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDPEN.
The City Council has given consideration to this problem
during the year and to certain lines of action suggested by the
Ministry of Health. The City Council considered that the voluntary
bodies who have been efficiently dealing with this problem for so
many years should receive fuller recognition and financial assistance
on an adequate scale. The problem being one concerning
London as a whole the matter has also received the joint consideration
of the Metropolitan Borough Councils, the London County
Council and various voluntary organisations.
As a result of this joint consideration it was decided
that the Metropolitan Borough Councils should make additional
contributions in proportion to rateable value to the voluntary
organisations, to enable them to increase their staff and improve
their services. Mestminster's contribution for the year 1944-45
was £972.
Other measures approved.by the City Council include
(a) the provision of residential nursery places for these children
and, (b) homes for mothers in later stages of pregnancy and
immediately after confinement.
The City Council also agreed that when conditions
returned to normal it would prepare a scheme of guaranteed payments
to approved foster mothers who undertook the care and maintenance
of illegitimate children.
CHILD LIFE PROTECTION.
There were 20 women on the Council's register of foster
mothers at the end of the year. These foster mothers and the
children in their care are regularly visited by the Council's
Health Visitors.
SUPPLY OF SHEETS FOR EXPECTANT -OTHERS.
A Circular dated 3rd November, 1944, was received, from
the Minister of Health stating that by arrangement with the Board
of Trade it had been decided to issue Priority Dockets for utility
sheets, on production of a medical certificate, to expectant
mothers who were to be confined in their own homes.
These dockets are being issued through the Maternity and
Child Welfare Centres and up to the end of 1944, twelve dockets
were issued to expectant mothers.
supply of food accessories.
By arrangement with the Ministry of Food, national dried
milk, fruit juices, vitamin tablets and cod liver oil have been
distributed to expectant mothers and children at the Maternity and
Child Welfare Centres in the City.