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78
During the year a start was made on the superstructure of
the Woolwich War Memorial Hospital and it is anticipated
that this Hospital will be opened some time in 1926. At the
present time a scheme is being considered whereby the Council's
Home for Ailing Babies will be closed and beds in the new
general hospital, subsidised by the Council, will be substituted.
The number of deaths of Woolwich residents which occurred
in the local Infirmaries was as follows:—Woolwich Infirmary,
347 ; Lewisham Infirmary, 78.
Institutional Provision for Unmarried Mothers. Woolwich
and Plumstead Maternity Home. There is a small home for
unmarried mothers, situated at 23, Vicarage Park, Plumstead,
which provides accommodation for eight mothers and babies.
Through the courtesy of the Superintendent I am able to give
the following information:—
Number.
Mothers in the Home on 1st January, 1924
Babies in the Home on 1st January, 1924
Mothers admitted during 1924 11
Babies do. do.
Births 9
Deaths —
Average duration of stay of each completed case
5½ months.
Mothers who attended ante-natal clinics of the
Borough Council 5
The function of the Home is to give illegitimate children
a chance of survival and the mothers are kept in the Home
doing the light work of the Home for about six months. When
they leave, situations are found for them, if possible, where
the child can be taken. For some years now the Council has
made a grant of £50 towards the funds of the Home. This
grant was again made in 1924.