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mainly through the agency of voluntary organisations in accordance with the policy
recommended by the Ministry of Health in circular 2866/43 and endorsed by the
Council in its proposals under the Act. As stated in the Council's proposals, some
women not admitted to voluntary mother and baby homes, chiefly because of their
unsuitability, are accommodated in two mother and baby homes and two special units
under the management of the Welfare Committee. This arrangement has continued
since the ' appointed day ', although provision was made in the National Health Service
(Amendment) Act, 1949, to make charges for residential accommodation and this
enactment would thus have enabled the Council to provide such accommodation
under its National Health Service Act powers and to charge therefor in the same way
as the voluntary homes have always done. The Council's Welfare Committee also
accepts financial responsibility for the maintenance on a ' per capita ' basis for unmarried
expectant mothers in voluntary mother and baby homes in circumstances where the
unmarried mother is unable to pay for her own maintenance.
Grants in aid for maintenance and upkeep of voluntary mother and baby homes
are paid annually by the Council. Before the inception of the National Health Service
Act, 1946, the Council paid grants to 21 mother and baby homes and five baby homes
under section 101 (6) of the Local Government Act, 1929. Since 5th July, 1948, the
Council has paid similar grants under section 22 of the National Health Service Act,
1946. In 1948, 23 homes were concerned, the total payments amounting to ,£19,286,
and in 1952 there were 20 homes, the total payments amounting to .£13,114. Following
the inception of the Children Act, 1948, the responsibility for ' deprived ' children
was taken over by the Council's Children's Committee and the grants to the five
baby homes were dealt with by that committee.
Before 5th July, 1948, the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee made
payments on behalf of the boroughs to moral welfare associations in London who
employed moral welfare workers. Under section 22 of the Act, the Council took over
responsibility for the payment of grants to five moral welfare associations (two C. of E.,
two R.C. and one Jewish), and in 1952 the grants amounted to .£9,260. The headquarters
of the five large associations are visited periodically to review the service
provided and to discuss matters of mutual interest. An annual Moral Welfare Conference
is held at which the past year's work is reviewed and current problems brought forward.
The voluntary homes take expectant unmarried mothers during the later stages of
pregnancy and for several weeks after confinement which, except at two homes, takes
place in hospital. The homes are visited by medical officers of the public health department
at least twice a year. Standards of staffing, space and management which have
been approved by the Ministry of Health are carefully applied to the running of the
homes. Grants towards the expenses of the homes are made subject to the carrying out
by the voluntary bodies of any improvements suggested by the Council. The Council
is represented on the home committees. The moral welfare associations undertake the
case work for unmarried mothers during the ante-natal and the immediate post-natal
period. The voluntary committees and matrons of the mother and baby homes also
assist in this snhere.
Ante-natal
care
Particular attention has been given to the ante-natal care of the unmarried expectant
mother. Moral welfare workers and health visitors work closely together with the aim
of giving the mothers the full benefits of the ante-natal clinics. Experimental evening
clinics have been held. To obtain definite information of the extent to which the
unmarried expectant mother avails herself of the services provided, a survey of the
ante-natal care received by each new admission to the mother and baby homes under
the control of voluntary organisations and of the welfare department of the Council
was planned for the first six months of 1953.
Welfare of
illegitimate
children
The welfare of the children of unmarried mothers has also been given attention
and in order to find out what changes take place in the child's environment, the effects
of these changes in the child's mental and physical development and the proportion
of unmarried mothers who achieve a continued association with their children it is