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CARE OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.—The duties of Welfare Worker in this connection are carried out by the
Superintendent Health Visitor.
During the year 12 (13) applications were received from the Paddington and St. Marylebone Association for Moral
Welfare Work for grants towards the cost of arrangments made by them for the maintenance in hostels of unmarried
mothers, all of which were granted. The mothers, who are admitted to hospital for confinement are received into the
hostel prior to the birth and subsequently return until suitable arrangements can be made for their future.
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 revised planning of the scheme for the establishment by the Council of a hostel for mothers and babies,
necessitated by the requirements of the Ministry of Health, was found to result in a considerable increase in the cost of
adapting the proposed premises. Mainly for this reason, but in the light of all the circumstances it was reluctantly
decided not to proceed with the matter. The use of other suitable premises which are likely to be less costly to adapt
is being kept in view.
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. Several have been referred
to employment agencies and placed in posts where they have been allowed to have their babies with them. Difficulty
is still expreienced 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 51/2 lbs. or less was 165 (123), of
whom 33 (28) were born at home and 132 (95) in institutions.
Of those born at home 31 (27) were nursed entirely at home, 2 (—) died during the first 24 hours and 28 (26)
survived at the end of one month.
Of those born in institutions 12 (9) died during the first twenty-four hours and 106 (67) survived at the end of one
month.
The special equipment provided in accordance with Ministry of Health Circular 20/44 was utilised in 7 (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.—During the year certain works of adaptation etc. were carried out at Westbourne Day Nursery
to restore the accommodation to its pre-war figure of 70, the number of places in the six Day Nurseries provided by the
Council being now 320, viz., 137 for children under the age of two years and 183 for those between the ages of two and
five. In addition accommodation for 20 children is provided at the Peter Pan Day Nursery, 6, Delamere Terrace,
under the auspices of the Save the Children Fund.
The demand for nursery facilities shows no sign of diminution, the number of children on the waiting list at the
close of the year being 569 as compared with 459 at the end of 1946.
With the exception of Queen's Park all the Council's nurseries have been approved by the Minister of Health as
Training Schools for Nursery Nurses.
The much reduced number of children attending on Saturday mornings led to the experimental closing on that
day of Queen's Park and Maida Vale Nurseries, the few children thus displaced being accommodated elsewhere. This
was found to be satisfactory, and, taking into consideration the economies effected, it was decided to continue the
arrangement indefinitely.