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(14)
CARE OF PREMATURE INFANTS: In accordance with recommendations contained in Ministry
of Hoalth circular 20/44..(a) a space is provided on the Birth Notification forms
for recording the weight of babies of 5½ 1bs or less; (b) a supply of equipment
is kept in stock for premature infants nursed at homo; (c) a panel of Home Helps
is available and (d) the Health Visitors regard premature births as 'special cases ,
necessitating more froquoent visiting. During tho yoar 40 births woro notified
where the birth weight was 5½ 1bs.or less; of these 18 were nursed entiroly at
homo and survived at tho end of ono month.
HOME & DOMESTIC HELPS: The Council provides a service of Home Helps during the
post-natal and ante-natal period- for domiciliary cases. 50 cases were attended
during the year. At the ond of the year the panel of Home Helps consisted of 3
regular persons. The staff shortage for this work continued and as a result the
Council agreed during the year to the employment on a short-term basis of suitable
porsons nominatod by tho Mothors thomselvcs. The scheme has worked well and
became increasingly popular.
Towards the latter end of the year the Council, in a limited way, was able to give
practical application to tho rocommondations of tho Ministry of Health under
Circular 179/44 regarding the provision of Domestic Helps to the sick and infirm
as apart from the Maternity Home Help Service. 4 Domestic Holps were engaged on
part-time duties to assist in 4 urgont casos at a net cost to tho Council of
£46.7s.4d.
HOSPITAL TREATMENT: The arrangements between the Council and the Elizabeth Garrott
Anderson Hospital for the retention of one cot has persisted throughout the year
and has worked very satisfactorily, Arrangements were made during the year for
the admission of four children to Hospital under these arrangements. Other
admissions during tho year wore made to tho Royal Free Hospital, Queen Elizabeth's
Hospital for Children, Archway Hospital and Charing Cross Hospital.
EAR, NOSE AND THROAT HOSPITALS: An arrangement is in force for the removal of
tonsil.; and adenoids with (1) The Royal Free Hospital, (2) Central London Ear, Nose
and Throat Hospital and (3) Queen Elizabeth's Hospital for Children. The waiting
list at these hospitals is however so great that in order to avoid delay children
were referred to Archway, St.Bartholomews or Gt.Ormond Stroot Hospitals. Eight
cases were dealt within this way.
PUERTO .L FEVER AND PUERPERAL PYREXIA: During 1946 thoro were three cases of
puerperal pyrexia and three cases of puerperal fever notifiod in Finsbury, nono
of which provod fatal. This gives a rate per 1,000 Live and Still Births of
8.4 as compared with 8.5 for England and Wales, and 9.68 for the London
Administrativo County.
Ophthalmla Nronsyotum: The number of casos of Ophthalmia Neonatorum notifiod
was six. Three of these cases were treated at home and three in hospital. In
no case was there impairment of vision.
CONVALConvalescent Treatment: Tho Council continued their arrangomonts with the
Dedisham Convalescent Home where two cots are retained and with the Noel Home
Letchworth where four cots are retained. The number of children admitted to
these homes during the year was 20. In addition, children woro referred for
convaloscnce through the Invalid Children's Aid Association, under which
arrangement 37 further children completed convalescence during 1946. The need
for convalescent provision greatly exceeded the accommodation available
Arrangements were made during the year with the Women's Holiday Fund to provide
a fortnight's holiday in approved cases. 12 mothers and 13 children were sent
away under these arrangoments.