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and the homes of foster mothers is carried out by the Health
Visitors who made 82 visits during the year.
The number of foster mothers on the Register at the end of the
year was 14, and the number of children 17.
Care of Illegitimate Children.—The Council continue to
assist financially Moral Welfare Associations in connection with their
work for the care of illegitimate children. The Health Visitor also
co-operates with the Associations when called upon.
Care of Premature Infants.—The procedure outlined in
M.H. Circular 20/44 has again been followed. The total number of
Premature Births in the Borough, i.e., Residents and Non-Residents
was 172. Of these 15 were born at home and 157 in hospitals.
Of the domiciliary births 8 were entirely nursed at home, 2 died
within 24 hours and 11 survived at the end of one month; whilst
28 of those born in hospital died during the first 24 hours and 110
survived at the end of one month.
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. The applicant must produce a certificate
signed by the Midwife who has been booked for the case, that she is
genuinely in need of additional sheets. The maximum number of
dockets granted to each applicant is 3.
A total of 1,730 dockets were issued during the year.
Day Nurseries.—Early in the year the Council were asked to
consider as to the continuance of the War-Time Nurseries. In view
of the changed conditions it was decided to transfer the Shooter's
Hill Road and Pound Park Road Nurseries to the London County
Council for use as Nursery Schools or Classes, in addition to the
portion of the Conley Street Nursery utilised for children between
the ages of 2 and 5 years. The remaining part of the Nursery
accommodating children up to 2 years continues to be administered
by the Borough Council.
Negotiations were carried out very smoothly and the transferace duly took effect on the 15th April, 1946.
Health Visitors.—The following tables show (A) the number
of visits made by the Health Visitors during the year in connection
with Births and cases of Infectious Diseases, and (B) number of
Infant Consultations and Ante-Natal Clinics attended and miscellaneous visits:—