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82
NURSING.
The District Nursing Association undertakes the nursing of children under five
years and of parturient women referred to them by medical practitioners and by the
Maternity and Child Welfare Department. The number of cases visited was 246
and the number of visits paid 3,023. The particulars of these cases will be found
on page 44 of this report.
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.
Under the provisions of the Transfer of Powers Order which became operative
on 1st April, 1933, powers under Part I of the Children's Act, 1908, as amended by
Part V of the Children's and Young Persons' Act, 1932, were transferred to the
Borough Council. Briefly the duties transferred are as follows:—
Reception of notices given by persons who undertake for reward the
nursing and maintenance in a dwelling of infants, and the inspection of
premises by infant protection visitors or other persons appointed by the
Council for that purpose.
Fixing the number of infants to be kept in a dwelling in which any
infant is received for reward.
Applications to a Court of Justice for an order directing the removal
of an infant to a place of safety.
Miss Heward, who holds the office of Health Visitor under the Shoreditch Borough
Council, was appointed Infant Life Protection Visitor and is normally responsible
for carrying out the duties above-mentioned.
On January 1st, 1934, there were twelve foster mothers in the Borough, each
being in charge of one foster child. During the year eight new foster mothers were
registered. Ten foster mothers were removed from the register during the year.
The Infant Life Protection Visitor reports that during 1934, 227 visits
were paid in connection with this work. With one exception all foster children
under five years of age attended the Welfare Centre, the exception being a
delicate child who was under treatment at St. Bartholomew's Hospital for
tonsillectomy. He made rapid progress.
On the whole, the health of the children was good. Two cases of measles
were nursed satisfactorily in the homes under the care of a doctor. One child
went to hospital with whooping cough and was away two months.
It was found necessary to advise the removal of the children from two homes.
In one of these cases the foster mother took a second child and it was left alone in
the house for two hours at a time. The baby was given into the charge of another
foster mother. In the other case the foster mother who had previously been
satisfactory, became untidy and the child suffered. On advice from this department
the parents removed the child from the care of the foster mother. Every child