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and whose cases cannot adequately be dealt with by the Borough Obstetric Consultant. It is not intended to be used
as an alternative to treatment in hospital, but solely in cases where the patient's condition is so grave that removal to
hospital would be dangerous. The emergency unit has available the necessary apparatus for carrying out blood
transfusion. The fee payable to the London Council is £5 5s. 0d. per patient.
The facilities were not utilised during the year.
home help service.—At the end of the year 19 women were employed full-time in connection with the Council's
arrangements for the provision of help in the home during confinement or illness, supplemented by casual part-time
women. Assistance was provided in 217 cases, comprising 150 maternity patients and 67 cases where domestic help
was needed on account of illness. Patients are assessed for payment in accordance with the scale recommended by the
Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee.
Provision is also made for carrying out the domestic washing of expectant or recently confined mothers, but use was
not made of these facilities during the year.
convalescence.—Convalescence was arranged in four instances, viz., three mothers and one child, assistance
towards the cost being given in three of the cases. In addition, thirteen children were sent to Homes under the
arrangement entered into with the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
child life protection.—The duties of Child Protection Visitor are carried out by each Health Visitor in respect
of her own district. In addition, the Medical Officer of Health, the Senior Medical Officer for Maternity & Child Welfare,
and two of the male Sanitary Inspectors are authorised to exercise the powers and duties of Child Protection Visitors
for special purposes.
During the year 275 visits and inspections were made, 13 new registrations of foster mothers were recorded, 23
new children were received and 31 children were removed—2 to hospital and 29 elsewhere. No deaths were reported.
No legal proceedings were necessary.
At the close of the year the Register contained the names of 16 persons who were receiving children for reward.
These persons had charge of 20 children.
In 1943 the Council adopted a scheme in connection with foster mothers for children under five years of age
designed to remove certain weaknesses which had hitherto existed, such as non-payment of fees with consequent
financial loss to the foster mother and failure to secure the attendance of the children at a Welfare Centre. Under
these arrangements the Council is responsible for the collection of the parents' contributions and the payments to the foster
mothers. Details are given below:—
Children Eligible. Children under five years of age who are not in receipt of public assistance.
Procedure.—Parents may apply personally at the Welfare Centre or by letter. In necessitous cases
help towards payment may be given.
Foster mothers apply for registration on forms supplied at the Welfare Centre, and the homes are
inspected before acceptance.
Conditions. Foster mothers are required to retain the child for a specified preliminary period before being
accepted on a permanent basis.
A separate cot for each child must be provided and a fireguard always kept in use.
Parents must give a weeks notice of intention to remove a child.
Children must attend a Welfare Centre regularly.
The mother must be allowed to visit the child weekly at a suitable time.
The mother is required to pay necessary doctor's fees.
The foster mother must not leave the child except with a responsible person.
The Council retains the right to transfer the child to a suitable institution or to another foster mother in
emergency.
During the year the Scheme was taken advantage of in 9 instances, in 1 of which financial assistance was given.
daily guardians.—Responsibility for these arrangements, which were inaugurated by the Ministry of Labour
and National Service in 1942, was transferred to the Borough Council on the 1st April. They provide for financial
assistance to working mothers towards the cost of caring for children under the age of five years during the day. The
mother makes her own arrangement with the Guardian as to payment, which is supplemented by a grant of 4s. per week
for a child cared for on four days or more, or 2s. per week for a child cared for on less than four days.