View report page

34
These figures do not, however, tell the whole story, as 150 nurse children were
added to the register, and 155 nurse children were removed during the year.

The number of visits paid by Infant Life Protection Visitors was 690. The
number of visits made by the male inspector in connection with infringements
and kindred matters was 54, while the number of visits paid by the district sanitary
inspectors was 27. The number, and nature, of the various legal infringements
discovered during the year, were as follows :—
TABLE No. 8.
Nature of Infringement. No.
Keeping a nurse child without giving timeous notice 11
Change of address by foster mother without giving timeous
notice 3
Infant removed from care of foster mother without giving
timeous notice 4
Keeping nurse children in excess of permitted number 1
Cautionary letters were sent in all cases. There were no prosecutions.
In one instance insanitary conditions were discovered; in one instance there
was overcrowding, and in five instances verminous conditions existed. In all cases
appropriate action was taken to secure the abatement of the nuisances. Nurse
children who are kept under unsatisfactory conditions may be removed to a place
of safety, but it was not necessary to take this action during the year.
All foster mothers are urged to attend the Council's welfare centres with the
children under five years of age in their charge, and it is pleasing to record, that,
with very few exceptions, those children who are under five regularly attend an
infant welfare centre. Special care is taken to see that children who are weak
and ailing attend. No children died during the year.
The only institution in the Borough holding a certificate of exemption is the
Woolwich War Memorial Hospital.