Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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or more per week, and 2s.0d. for each child taken for less than
four days per week.
During the year, 23 women were placed on the register
and 28 children were cared for. The cost, which is reimbursed
by the Ministry of labour, amounted to £154 14s. 0d.
At the end of the year there were on the register
7 daily guardians who were caring for 9 children.
Child Life Protection.
| Child Life Protection. | |
| Foster mothers on register on 1st January, 1945 | 23 |
| Foster mothers remaining on register at the end of the year | 31 |
| Foster children on register on 1st January, 1945 | 39 |
| Foster children remaining on register at the end of the year | 45 |
| Total visits paid to foster mothers | 674 |
Care of Illegitimate Children.
In co-operation with the Ministry of Health, the
London County Council and all other London boroughs, it was
decided:-
(a) to institute a scheme of guaranteed
payments to foster mothers, and
(b) to provide greater financial assistance
to voluntary bodies.
A detailed scheme was prepared by a special Advisory
Committee of the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee,
and this was adopted by the. Council. That part dealing with
guaranteed payments to foster mothers came into operation on the
1st January, 1945, and provided for the payment to approved
foster mothers of 17s.6d. per week for a child under one year of
age and 15s.0d. per week for a child over one year and under
five years. A scale was approved by the Council under which the
weekly contribution by the mother from her own resources would
be assessed.
In no case during 1945 was the Council asked to
make a payment.
Five London moral welfare organisations submitted a
scheme for improving their services involving an additional
expenditure, for the first year, of £5,615. It was agreed by
London boroughs that the apportionment of this amount should be
on the basis of rateable value and Kensington's contribution
amounted to £305 per annum.
Care of Premature Infants.
The Council have adopted proposals for the care of
premature infants, including the loan of special equipment, the
supply of breast milk, the service of a paediatrician, etc.
During the year under review, the births in the
borough of 27 premature infants were notified. Of these, 26
were born at home and one in hospital. Of those born at home,
all were nursed entirely at home, and 25 survived at the end
of one month. The one child born in hospital died within the
first twenty-four hours.
Arrangements have been made for notifications of
birth to give the weight of the child when born.