London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of Westminster 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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68
Notices numbering 114 were received from other authorities in respect
of the transfer of children from the care of foster mothers in those districts
to the care of their parents or other persons residing or said to be residing
in Westminster.
The Council granted a certificate of exemption for a period of one
year, under the provisions of Section 271 (2) of the Act, in respect of a
Nursery established at Dolphin Square, Grosvenor Road, a large block
of high-class flats. The Nursery, which was provided for the use of tenants
only, has accommodation for some 40 children, and is under the supervision
of a trained nursing staff. The certificate exempts from visitation
by the Council's officers and the necessity for giving notice to the Council
of the reception or removal of children.
During the year visits to foster children were carried out as follows :— Table LXII.—Foster Children.
| District. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| South-West. | Southern. | Northern. | |
| Visits by Child Life Protection Visitors to:— Foster Children under 5— | |||
| First visits | 20 | 16 | 12 |
| Subsequent visits | 75 | 12 | 8 |
| Foster Children 5 to 9— | |||
| First visits | 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Subsequent visits | 11 | 2 | 8 |
Cookery Classes.—During the year the Council appointed a qualified
teacher of cookery, to give courses of demonstration lectures at the
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres. A limited number of mothers
are enrolled for each short course of demonstrations. These demonstrations
aim at giving the young mothers not only some insight into the art
of cookery, but also some knowledge of economical purchasing, so that
the fullest use can be made of a small sum of money, in providing a meal
which is attractive and is also suitable from the point of view of modern
dietetic theory. The classes have been very successful and have proved
both interesting and profitable to the mothers.
Barlow's Gift.—The special committee administering this trust has
again made the annual allocation equally between maternity and child
welfare, the tuberculosis handicrafts Committee and the Westminster
Nursing Committee.