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35
but he had not been able to take up his duties before the end of the year. Any
consequent administrative changes regarding the residential nurseries will be dealt
with in my report for 1949.
The care of unmarried mothers and their children
"The problem of illegitimacy still remains and still needs all the skill, patience
and effort which statutory authorities and voluntary organisations can bring to its
solution. Constructive help in meeting the responsibility of her child can be given to
the unmarried mother and her position eased if her special needs are recognised and
are fitted into the structure of the new health and social services."
This paragraph concludes the final report of the County of London Advisory
Body on the Care of Illegitimate Children, which was set up following the Ministry
of Health Circular 2866/43 of 16th November, 1943, to advise on the care of illegitimate
children. The Advisory Body ceased its work on 4th July, 1948, when the
Council took over responsibility under the National Health Service Act. In undertaking
this responsibility regard was had to the advice given by the Minister of Health
in circular 2866/43 "that the most promising line of attack would be that the welfare
authorities should co-operate with and reinforce the work of existing moral welfare
associations." The Minister also commends in this circular the successful work of
voluntary agencies and moral welfare workers attached to diocesan and other religious
bodies.
The care of the unmarried mother and her child is administered by the Council
as follows:—
(a) Voluntary houses take expectant mothers during the later stages of pregnancy
and for several weeks after confinement. With two exceptions, confinements take
place in hospital. Formerly grants were paid to the homes on behalf of the Minister
of Health under the Local Government Act, 1929, and since 5th July, 1948, the
Council has itself continued to pay the grants under Section 22 of the National Health
Service Act. Grants are also made to two other homes previously aided under the
Council's V.D. Scheme. The homes are visited by medical officers of the department
at least twice a year and by sanitary inspectors when any alterations to the premises
are necessary. Standards of staffing, space and management which have been approved
by the Ministry of Health are carefully applied to the running of the homes. The
grants paid are subject to the observance by the voluntary bodies of any improvements
suggested by the Council. The two homes which undertake their own confinements
are registered under Part XI of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and the others
are exempted from this Act. Some of the homes are also registered under Section 29
of the Children Act, 1948. The following statement gives certain particulars of the
homes:—
No. of grant-aided homes 23
Amount of grant (approx.) £19,286
The denominations responsible for these homes are: Church of England, 8;
Roman Catholic, 4; Salvation Army, 3; Church Army, 1; Jewish, 1; Methodist, 1;
Undenominational. 5.
Voluntary
Mother and
Baby Homes
(6) Field work, both pre-natal and post-natal is, in the main, done by moral
welfare associations whose workers attach the greatest importance to this part of
their work. It includes arrangements for the mother to re-establish her own life
with her baby, if possible. Thirty-four moral welfare workers are employed by the
five associations which received grants amounting to £4,695 from the Council for the
portion of the year from 5th July, 1948. The voluntary committees of the mother
and baby homes share in the field work.
Field Work
(c) The metropolitan boroughs, before 5th July, 1948, required their health
visitors to co-operate with the moral welfare workers in the care of unmarried mothers.
Participation
of Health
Visitors