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Altogether Home Helps were provided in 232 cases, 62 of which
were for illness or elderly and infirm cases.
The duration of stay for confinement cases was two weeks except
in a few instances where this was extended on medical grounds.
Owing possibly to the severe weather experienced in the first
quarter of the year there were increased demands for assistance in
illness cases, and although there were occasions when the Staff was
depleted owing to members themselves becoming ill, the majority
of the applicants were provided with Home Helps. The few instances
referred to were able to make temporary arrangements with friends
or relatives until put in touch with the Home Help.
Arrangements have been made for regular assistance to be
given to the larger of the several Almshouses in the District.
One Home Help is attached to each group, putting in three or
four hours two or three days a week as occasion demands. Only a
nominal charge is made in these cases.
The total amount received from applicants towards the cost
of the service given was £561 2s. 7d.
Child Life Protection.—The supervision of foster children and the
homes of foster mothers is carried out by the Health Visitors who
made 89 visits during the year.
The number of foster mothers on the Register at the end of the
year was 18, and the number of children 18.
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 Association 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 Babies notified in the Borough, i.e. Residents and Nonresidents
was 173. Of these 25 were born at home and 148 in
hospitals or nursing homes. Of the domiciliary births 23 were
entirely nursed at home, 1 died within 24 hours and 22 survived
at the end of one month; whilst 13 of those born in hospitals or
nursing homes died during the first 24 hours and 16 between 1 day
and 1 month. 119 survived at the of one month.
The number of premature babies notified during the year whose
mothers normally resided in the Borough was 99, or 5.3% of the
total births notified. Of these 26 died; the remainder were reported
upon as progressing satisfactorily at the end of the year.
Supply of Sheets for Expectant Mothers.—The Scheme
whereby Board of Trade priority dockets are issued by the Department
to Expectant Mothers who are being confined in their own