View report page

15
was sufficiently repaired to enable sessions to be re-opened and
normal consultations carried on.
Child Life Peotection.—The supervision oi foster children
and the homes of foster mothers is carried on by the Health Visitors
who made 40 visits during the year. The number of foster mothers
on the register at the end of the year was 9, and the number
of children 10.
Care of Premature Infants.—In order to assist the Ministry
of Health in its efforts to reduce the Neo-Natal Mortality rate,
immediate information is now available of all births occurring in the
Borough where the weight at birth is 5½ lbs or less. This enables
the Health Visitor to ascertain whether there is need of the services
of the Home Help or if there is sufficient and suitable equipment
in the home, and any other special arrangements that may be considered
necessary.
During the year there were 34 premature births notified, of
which 10 were born at home and 24 in hospital. Of this number
9 and 18 respectively were alive at the end of one month. No calls
were made for assistance in the way of extra equipment and in no
instance was the services of a Home Help required.
Care of Illegitimate Children.—The Council, under powers
conferred by Section 251 (1) of the Public Health (London) Act
1936, assists financially Moral Welfare Associations in connection
with their work for the care of illegitimate children and also guarantees
payment to foster mothers who undertake the care of such
children up to 5 years of age, not on the rolls of the school.
Home Helps.—Increased demand was made upon the Council's
Home Help Scheme during the year. Eighty applications were dealt
with by the Assistance Committee, and in 73 instances the services
of a Home Help were provided. In the remaining cases the
applications were withdrawn.
Supply of Sheets for Expectant Mothers.—The Board
of Trade priority dockets are issued by the department to expectant
mothers who are being confined in their own homes, enabling them
to purchase utility sheets. Applicants must produce a certificate
signed by the Midwife who has been booked for the case, that the
applicant is genuinely in need of additional sheets.
931 dockets were issued during the year.
Domestic Helps.—It has been apparent for some time past
that there was a definite case for a Domestic Help Scheme, which
could be organised on the lines of the Home Help Scheme. Such
a scheme would be of great benefit during epidemics of influenza,