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6
Child Life Protection.
During the year, 351 visits were paid by health visitors to fostermothers
and foster-children in the Borough. On the 31st December,
1945, the number of foster-mothers on the register was 8, and the
number of foster-children was 12. In addition there were 3 boarding
schools taking altogether 14 children under the age of 9 years. The
Eagle's Nest Foster Home returned from evacuation to 33, Fitzjohns
Avenue, where 28 children up to 3 years of age can be accommodated.
Care of Illegitimate Children—Ministry of Health Circular No. 2866
(revised).
After consideration of this circular, the Council agreed in principle
that close co-operation is 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 1945-46, 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 is still
not possible to obtain suitable foster-mothers, and therefore the scheme
is held in abeyance for the present.
Care of Premature Infants (i.e., infants weighing 5½ lbs. or less at birth)—
Ministry of Health Circular 20/44.
Arrangements have been made for the weight of each newly-born
child to be entered on the birth notification, so that early contact can
be made between the Health Visitor and the mothers of premature babies
born at home. Close liaison is also maintained with Hospitals, so that
Health Visitors can follow up as soon as a premature infant is discharged
to its own home.
In addition, the equipment already used by the District Nursing
Associations for the nursing of premature infants born at home has
been supplemented by certain items provided by the Borough Council
and loaned to the Associations, i.e.—rubber hot-water bottles, special
feeding bottles, mucus catheters, etc.
During the year there were 45 births notified where the birth weight was
5½ lbs. or less. 15 of these were nursed at home and 30 in hospital or
nursing homes. 12 of those born at home and 17 of those born in hospital
or nursing homes were alive at the end of one month. One child born in
hospital we are unable to trace since discharge.
Domestic Helps—Ministry of Health Circular 179/44.
This Circular deals with (i) the provision by the Borough Council of
domestic helps to be available at any time to households where such
help is urgently required owing to sickness or infirmity ; (ii) the question
of payment to domestic helps ; and (iii) the assessment and recovery of
the cost from households.
The Council agreed that there is need for such a service in the Borough,
and in order to achieve uniformity of action throughout London regarding
assessment and recovery of cost, the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing
Joint Committee suggested a uniform scale of assessment which has now