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5
Home Helps.
There have been 42 cases in which Home Helps have been provided
during home confinements under the scheme of the Hampstead Borough
Council.
Convalescent Homes.
During the year arrangements were made for 1 mother and baby to
be admitted to a Convalescent Home under the Borough Council Scheme.
Consulting Obstetricians.
During 1944 no call was made on the services of a Consultant under
the Borough Council Scheme.
Supply of Milk and Food.
Under the Borough Council Scheme 129 packets of Proprietary Brands
of Dried Milk were issued either free or at half-price to 9 infants.
Supply of Vitamins, etc.
By arrangement with the local Ministry of Food Office, fruit juices,
etc., have been distributed at the Welfare Centres and Ante-natal
Clinics.
Priority Utility Sheet Dockets for Expectant Mothers.
Commencing on the 3rd November, 1944, an arrangement was made
whereby Board of Trade Priority Utility Sheet Dockets were issued by
this Department to expectant mothers only, on receipt of a signed
certificate from a midwife stating that the patients were in need of sheets
for home confinement. A maximum of 3 Dockets could be issued to each
expectant mother.
During the last two months of 1944, 2 applications were received and
4 Dockets issued.
Child Life Protection.
During the year, 114 visits were paid by health visitors to fostermothers
and foster-children in the Borough. On the 31st December,
1944, the number of foster-mothers on the register was 6, and the
number of foster-children was 8.
Care of Illegitimate Children—Ministry of Health Circular No. 2866
(revised).
This Circular has been before the Council on several occasions, and
as a result it was agreed in principle that close co-operation was necessary
between the Borough Council and existing Moral Welfare Organisations.
Subject to these Moral Welfare Organisations undertaking additional
work and increasing their staffs, it was agreed that, in conjunction with
the other Metropolitan Boroughs, annual contributions (on a rateable
value basis) should be made to these organisations. Hampstead's
contribution has been calculated at £161 for the years 1944-45 and 194546,
subject to a pro rata contribution for 1944-45 and a review in April,
1946.
The Council also agreed in principle to a scheme for guaranteed
payments to foster-mothers, but owing to a variety of causes, it was
found impossible at this time to obtain suitable foster-mothers, and
therefore the scheme is held in abeyance for the present.