View report page

PREMATU RE BIRTHS.
The number of premature births notified during the year was 193,
of which 155 survived the first month of life. Special attention was
paid to these cases by the Council's Health Visitors. Detailed
particulars of these cases appear in the following table.
No. of premature babies notified during 1945 who
weighed 5½ lbs or less at birth:-
(i) Born at home 33 *
(ii) Born in hospital 160 †
No. of those born at home:-
(i) who were nursed entirely at home 31
(ii) who died during the first 24 hours 4
(iii) who survived at the end of one month 28
No. of those born in hospital:-
(i) who died during the first 24 hours 17
(ii) who survived at the end of one month 127
* Two of these cases were subsequently removed to hospital.
†In three instances It was not possible to "follow up' , to
ascertain whether or not the child survived.
CHILD LIFE PROTECTION.
The supervision of foster mothers and children is undertaken by
the Municipal Health Visitors.
Visits to foster mothers and children 167
Foster mothers under supervision at the end of 1945 14
Foster children under supervision at the end of 1945 18
CARE OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.
Close co-operation continued between the Public Health Department
and the Moral Welfare Worker of the Southwark .Diocesan Association for
Moral Welfare in all matters relating to the care of the illegitimate
child and its mother. Information of all notified births of illegitimate
children were forwarded to the Moral Welfare Worker. Guaranteed
payments to foster mothers undertaking the care of illegitimate children
were made under this Scheme during the year, and at the end of the
year 4 foster mothers were receiving payment in respect of 4 children,
contributions towards the cost of this service being recovered by the
Council from the natural mother in each case.
ANCILLARY SERVICES .
In 73 instances the services of a Home Help were provided for
mothers, either before, during or after confinement. In two instances
the services of a Domestic Help were provided in homos where there was
sickness. Nineteen expectant or nursing mothers were provided with
dental treatment.
Priority dockets were issued to 464 expectant mothers to enable
them to purchase sheets for their confinements.
The District Nursing Associations paid a total of 2,805 visits
to 238 approved cases under the Council's Domiciliary Nursing Scheme.
A total of 73 patients benefitted under the Council's Treatment
of Minor Ailments Scheme.
Eleven children were sent during the year through the agency of
the Invalid Children's Aid Association to convalescent homes.