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9
year there were 51 such cases. Special provision is made at Perivale
Maternity Hospital and at the County Hospitals for the care of
premature infants.
The Health Visitors are now responsible for investigating cases
of adoption. Eight notices were received under Section 7 of the
Adoption of Children (Regulation) Act, 1939, and in these cases
the Health Visitors have carried out the supervision required by
the Act. In addition, visits were made to 72 other cases of adoption
in which notice had not to be given under the Act. In all cases,
reports are submitted to the local Court, at which application is
to be made for the Adoption Order, or to registered adoption societies
who have asked for visits to be made.
The special war-time services—the distribution of National
Dried milk, fruit juice and cod liver oil and the booking of expectant
mothers for evacuation have continued at the Health Centres,
despite the cessation of hostilities. During the year, 33 expectant
mothers took advantage of the opportunity to have their confinement
away from London. When the Government Evacuation
Scheme was terminated at the end of August, the scheme was
continued by the Ministry of Health as an emergency measure
to help meet the urgent need for maternity hospital accommodation.
Local authorities booking accommodation under the new scheme
had, however, to accept responsibility for the cost of treatment
and maintenance. In December, the Middlesex County Council
decided that they would accept responsibility for all cases booked
under the scheme, whose homes are within the area of the County.
During the year the Council decided that all the facilities for
treatment of children under five years of age, should be offered
free of charge. This measure, besides obviating the collection of
many trivial sums of money, ensures that children are put forward
for treatment without any delay caused by the completion of assessment
forms and the payment of fees. It also brings the Maternity
and Child Welfare Scheme into line with the School Medical Service,
all treatment of school children having to be free, as from the
1st April, 1945.
In February a scheme for the provision of domestic helps was
brought into operation, the cost being borne by the Ministry of
Health. Help in the home is provided in cases of illness and other
emergencies and the assistance given in such cases proved very
valuable. At the end of the year an average of twenty workers,
mostly part-time, were employed, under the direction of a Supervisor
appointed specially for the work.