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70
Child Life Protection.
Public Health (London) Act, 1936—Section XIII.
The five Health Visitors are appointed as Child Protection
Visitors.
The following are the statistics relative to this work during the
year:—
On the 31st December, 1937, there were in the Borough 23 fostermothers
having charge of 40 foster-children.
Number of foster-children removed 71
„ foster-children added 77
„ foster-mothers removed 22
„ foster-mothers added 20
„ visits paid by Health Visitors to
children 489
„ visits paid by Health Visitors to
mothers 267
The supervision of foster-mothers and foster-children has continued
to be exercised by the Health Visitors acting as Child Life
Protection Visitors, and reports thereon have been regularly submitted
to the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee. In special cases,
visits have been paid personally, either by myself or the Assistant
Medical Officer of Health.
It is unfortunate that the number of suitable foster-mothers in
this Borough is so limited. During the year 48 applications for placing
foster-children were referred to other Authorities as we had no
vacancies. It would appear that if a sufficient number of suitable
foster-mothers are not available, consideration should be given to the
question of the establishment of Foster-Homes in London. The pressing
need for such accommodation is not peculiar to the Borough of
Hampstead.
The Hampstead foster-mothers are required to conform to a good
standard, and to bring their foster-children to an Infant Welfare
Centre. The standard that is required to be attained is indicated in
the Annual Report for 1933 of the Chief Officer of the Ministry of