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The provision of domestic help in other cases, such as illness and
old age, is a more recent innovation, having its inception in
February, 1945, following an authorising memorandum from the
Ministry of Health. The two types of cases are now dealt with by
the same staff of domestic workers, this proving more practicable
than having two separate groups of workers. It is a rule that
maternity cases have priority over the other cases and this means
that workers have to leave these other cases without warning
whenever one of their maternity bookings needs attention. During
the year, 125 maternity cases and 369 other cases were assisted.
CARE OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.
The Council makes its most active contribution to the work
of caring for the illegitimate child by arranging for, and meeting
the cost of, hostel accommodation for the mother. During the
year, 30 mothers with illegitimate children were admitted to either
a pre-natal or post-natal hostel organised by the British Red
Cross Society. Many of these mothers, not all of whom were
unmarried girls, went to the pre-natal hostel before the baby was
born and then to the post-natal hostel after the confinement,
remaining there until the problem of the baby's future had been
satisfactorily settled. Adoption is the most usual way of securing
the welfare of these children.
The interviewing in connection with these cases is done by
the social worker employed by the Ealing Deanery Moral Welfare
Association, who submits recommendations regarding cases which
she considers suitable for the hostels. Admission to the hostel is
then secured through the Middlesex County Council, who have
made arrangements with the British Red Cross Society on behalf
of all the welfare authorities in the county.
SUPERVISION OF MIDWIVES.
The Council have been the Local Supervising Authority under
the Midwives Acts since 1930, when the powers were delegated by
the County Council. All midwives practising in the borough are
required to give notice of their intention to practise and thereafter
come under supervision.