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Several enquiries were received during the period for places in day nurseries and arrangements
were made with voluntary nurseries in adjacent boroughs for the children of working mothers
to be placed and maintenance guaranteed by the Corporation. However in each case the mother
withdrew having been able to make other arrangements for the child/children to be cared for by
relatives.
It is appropriate here to mention the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulations Act, 1948.
During the period there were no enquiries for services or registration under this Act and very few
are expected. However, advertisements were inserted in appropriate newspapers to draw the
attention of persons to the requirements of the Act.
Unmarried Mothers and their Children
The care of such persons and their placement in homes is the responsibility of the Health
and Welfare Officer in conjunction with voluntary moral welfare bodies. No cases were referred
to the department up to 31st December, although Moral Welfare bodies dealt with 17 city worker
cases. The Corporation would deal with any arising, either under the National Health Service
Act 1946 or the National Assistance Act, 1948, whichever was more appropriate to the circumstances
of the case.
Fireguards
Where necessary fireguards will be lent to necessitous families with children under 12 years
of age and also to necessitous elderly, handicapped or blind persons.
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT 1946 SECTION 23
Midwives Service
As mentioned previously the Metropolitan District Nursing Association provides these
services in the City.
Emergency services for night and weekend calls are organised on a rota basis but by cooperation
with the Whittington Hospital patients only have one number to telephone. Living accommodation
for staff is provided in Corporation property in the City's Golden Lane Estate where
necessary.
The authorities of the Inner and Middle Temples have requested the Corporation to provide
midwifery services in their areas and this has been agreed. Under the London Government Act,
1963 the Temples, which administratively are within the City, are their own health and welfare
authorities. At the end of the year no Order had been made regulating the provision of services
in the Temples.
During the nine months under review the Metropolitan District Nursing Association dealt
with one domiciliary confinement and one early discharge of mother and baby from hospital.
Midwives Act, 1951
The Corporation is the Supervising Authority for the City of London which includes St. Bartholomew's
Hospital. 13 midwives notified their intention to practice.
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT 1946 SECTION 24
Health Visiting
At 1st April one Health Visitor was transferred from the London County Council or re-transferred
to the Corporation as she had, in fact, been employed by the Corporation prior to 1948.
The Health and Welfare Officer is also a qualified Health Visitor and hence the service can
proceed during holidays and ill-health but it is obvious that this is unsatisfactory in view of the
other demands on the time of the Health and Welfare Officer and arrangements are tn hand for
the appointment of a Health Visitor/Social Worker. This will enable more routine visiting of
elderly persons to be undertaken and free the Health and Welfare Officer for more responsible
tasks in connection with her varied duties.
During this period the health visitor made 190 effective and 65 unsuccessful home visits.
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT 1946 SECTION 25
Home Nursing
At present the home nursing service is undertaken by the Metropolitan District Nursing
Association. It is proposed to continue this arrangement and to expand the work. The functions
of the Home Nurse will be not only to carry out clinical treatments as instructed by the General
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