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At the end of 1930 there were 1,773 homes under inspection, the number of
nurse-infants therein being 2,548.
Nurse infants who are kept under unsatisfactory conditions, which fall within
the purview of Section 5 of the Act, may be removed to a place of safety. In London
public assistance institutions are used for this purpose. During 1930 it was necessary
to remove only 6 nurse-infants, compared with 18 in 1929. Five of the children
were removed from one foster mother and 1 child from another. The Act permits
local authorities to grant total or partial exemption from inspection where circumstances
appear to warrant such a course, but no application for exemption was made
during 1930.
The homes where nurse-infants are kept are visited in order to ascertain whether
the sanitary condition of the premises is satisfactory; 688 reports were made during
1930, compared with 761 in 1929. In 422 cases the premises were found to be satisfactory
compared with 462 in 1929. In 101 homes sanitary defects were discovered,
compared with 102 in 1929, while overcrowding was found in 84 homes, compared
with 100 in 1929. Overcrowding and sanitary defects combined were found in 32
homes, compared with 14 in 1929. In 49 cases no action could be taken under the
provisions of this Act owing to the removal of the nurse-infant prior to the visit
of the inspector. Special inquiries were also made in 348 cases with regard to the
condition of the premises, and the necessary action was taken in each case. In
the event of a serious sanitary defect beingreported the attention of the local borough
council is drawn thereto, and in some cases it has been found possible by rearrangement
of the accommodation to secure improvement. In others it has not been possible
and the foster parent has been urged to return the child in her charge to the parent
or to obtain other and more suitable accommodation.
Foster mothers are advised to attend local infant welfare centres with the
children in their charge. In the event of a nurse-infant being weak or ailing the
visitor carefully watches the case and sees that the treatment advised by the
doctor is duly carried out. If doubt exists in the visitor's mind with regard to the
progress of the the nurse-infant, one of the Council's medical officers attends and
examines the child. During the year, 25 nurse-infants died, compared with 27 in
1929. In 7 cases inquests were held, compared with 8 in the previous year: a
verdict of death from natural causes was recorded in 4 cases and in 3 cases
accidental death. In none of the cases was blame attached to the foster mother.
Adoption of
Children Act,
1926.
The Adoption of Children Act, 1926, provides for the legal adoption of infants.
A court, upon the hearing of an application for an adoption order, may appoint some
public body to act as guardian ad litem, with the duty of safeguarding the interests
of the infant before the Court, and, where the body so appointed is the local authority,
may authorise the authority to incur any necessary expenditure.
The Council at the request of the Home Secretary has agreed to act as guardian
ad litem of children who are the subject of applications for adoption orders in London.
The Council's medical officer deals with those children who have been or are nurseinfants
under the supervision of the public health department. During the year
1930 the total number of applications dealt with by this department was 60. The
results of the hearings were as follows:—55 full adoption orders and 2 interim adoption
orders made; 2 applications refused and 1 withdrawn.
It is understood that the work of the Council's officers has been of assistance,
both to the Courts and to the petitioners. Although the Court may authorise the
public body, acting as guardian ad litem, to incur any necessary expenditure, the
Council has decided not to make application to Court for payment, as the expenses
are trivial. Work of the Chemical Branch.
The work of the branch is carried out at four laboratories, viz., the central
laboratory at County Hall, the laboratories at the Northern and Southern Outfalls
and at Greenwich power station.