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Prospective guardians are registered by the Council after interview as to their suitability, and visits are paid to
ensure that home conditions are satisfactory.
During the year 15 persons were registered for the care of 15 children. At the end of the year the register contained
the names of 6 Guardians who had charge of 6 children.
perambulator hire scheme.—The demand for the facilities provided under these arrangements fell off
considerably during the year, and in view of this and the fact that, owing to depreciation and other causes, the number
of perambulators available for issue was very much reduced, it was decided to terminate the scheme on the expiration
of existing hiring agreements. The expenditure on this service from its inception in 1942 until the 30th June, 1946,
was £383; income for the corresponding period was £438.
There is no doubt that the scheme succeeded in its object of easing the position created by the scarcity and high
price of perambulators during the war period.
contraceptive advice.—The Council have an arrangement with the North Kensington Women's Welfare Centre
for the giving of contraceptive advice to married women who are already in attendance at a Welfare Centre of the
Council and whose health would be adversely affected by another pregnancy, the cost (10s. Od.) being borne by the
Council in appropriate cases. Two such women were referred for advice during the year.
extra nourishment.—The National Milk Scheme is supplemented, where necessary on medical grounds, by
grants under the Council's scheme. Assistance was given in 20 such cases during the year.
care of illegitimate children.—The duties of Welfare Worker in this connection are carried out by the
Superintendent Health Visitor.
During the year 13 women were admitted to the Main Memorial Home, Hampstead, prior to confinement. After
the birth, which in each case took place in hospital, mother and child were re-admitted to the Home pending satisfactory
arrangements for the infant's care. Financial assistance was given in all cases.
A contribution of £176 was made towards the funds of voluntary organisations concerned with moral welfare
work, in accordance with the scheme arranged by the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee.
The arrangements in connection with the establishment of a hostel for mothers and babies proceeded during the
year and plans of the proposed layout were submitted to the Ministry of Health. The nature of the Ministry's
observations, however, were such as to necessitate complete re-planning, and amended proposals were under
consideration at the end of the year.
All unmarried mothers are interviewed during the ante-natal period and encouraged to make arrangements for
keeping their babies ; they are also referred to the appropriate Moral Welfare Workers. Difficulty is experienced in
obtaining suitable foster-mothers or places in residential nurseries when these are required.
premature infants.—The number of Paddington babies whose weight at birth was 5½ lbs. or less was 123, of
whom 28 were born at home and 95 in institutions.
Of those born at home 27 were nursed entirely at home, none died during the first 24 hours and 26 survived at the
end of one month.
Of those born in institutions 9 died during the first twenty-four hours and 67 survived at the end of one month.
The special equipment provided in accordance with Ministry of Health Circular 20/44 was utilised in 8 instances,
and in no case was it necessary to obtain paediatric advice.
All premature infants who survived the neo-natal period progressed satisfactorily during the year and were the
subject of special attention by the Health Visitor.
Notification is received of the discharge of all infants born in institutions in the Borough.
day nurseries.—Responsibility for the nurseries established under war-time arrangements was transferred to
the Council as from the 1st April.
There are six day nurseries in the Borough, providing accommodation for 274 children, 132 under the age of two
years and 142 between the ages of two and five. These, however, are insufficient to meet the continued demand for
vacancies, the number of children on the waiting list at the end of the year being 459. Efforts are being made to
discover premises suitable for conversion to day nursery purposes, and the use of vacant sites for the erection of hutted
nurseries is being borne in mind.