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one case it was necessary for a foster child to be removed to an
Institution as the parent was unable to continue payments to the
foster mother. In another case a foster child was found in a common
lodging house and was subsequently removed to the care of a foster
mother in another Borough. The names of three foster mothers were
removed from the register. Several foster children were evacuated
but subsequently returned to the district.
In accordance with the Ministry of Health's request that the
Council should consider the introduction of a guaranteed payment
scheme to foster mothers in respect of children under 5 years of
age, this was commenced during the year, but although wide publicity
through the medium of the press, labour exchanges and infant
welfare centres, was given to* the scheme, only one application for
registration was received. Such a poor response to the Council's
appeal for foster-mothers was undoubtedly due to the prevailing
demand for female labour in industry, women preferring to obtain
employment outside the home at wages much higher than they would
obtain as foster mothers, rather than accept responsibility for the
care of children by night and day in their own homes.
Generally, the health of foster children remained good and some
170 visits were paid to them by the Child Life Protection visitor,
HOME HELPS.
Despite the many difficulties in obtaining suitable women willing
to work as Home Helps, it was possible in 20 cases to provide this
service. An application was made early in the year to the Ministry
of Labour for women who were prepared to undertake these duties, but
none were available from this source. In a few instances it was
not possible to provide home helps, but this was generally due to
late application for assistance by the patient.
WAR-TIME NURSERIES.
At the close of the year there were three war-time nurseries in
Southwark, one of which was operated by the London County Council in
conjunction with its Rest Centre Service. Owing to the small
attendance of children at the Evelina Nursery, Southwark Bridge
Road, and to a request from the Governors of the Hospital for
possession of that part of the hospital used as a nursery, it was
closed dcwn, with the approval of the Ministry of Health on 30th
September, the staff being transferred to a nursery at Trimdon near
Durham.
The health of the children at the nurseries was generally good
and a satisfactory attendance was maintained.
The greatest difficulty experienced was in connection with
staffing, but this was by no means local in character, the same
problems being met in most of the other London Boroughs.

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