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reserved at this hospital for 144 of the Council's cases per annum. In addition,
by arrangement with the London County Council, accommodation is reserved
for a further 168 cases per annum, the London County Council accepting financial
responsibility. The maternity unit at the War Memorial Hospital reopened on
the 1st January, and the pre-war agreement again operated, the hospital providing
accommodation for 66 cases per annum referred by the Council. With the reopening
of this unit, the war-time arrangement with the British Hospital for Mothers and
Babies for the acceptance of an extra 72 Council cases was discontinued.
During 1945, 1,272 mothers were admitted to the British Hospital for Mothers
and Babies. 807 of these were Woolwich mothers, 297 of whom were admitted
under the Council's scheme. 211 mothers were admitted to the War Memorial
Hospital, 66 of them being Woolwich mothers, 62 of whom were Borough Council
cases. 56 mothers were admitted to the Eltham Cottage Hospital.
Care of Premature Infants. The number of babies born in the Borough
whose birth weight was 5½ lbs. or less was 72. Of these, 58 were born in hospital
and 14 in private houses. Of those born in hospital, 4 died during the first twentyfour
hours and 48 survived at the end of four weeks. Of those born in private
houses, 3 were admitted to hospital; 2 died during the first twenty-four hours, and
11 survived at the end of four weeks. No applications for the loan of draft-proof
cots or other equipment, or for the services of the Consultant Paediatrician were
received.
Home Helps. During the year, 104 applications were considered and 82
home helps were provided in confinement cases. An extension of the home help
scheme to provide domestic help in cases where the housewife is incapacitated was
put into force at the beginning of the year, in accordance with the Ministry of
Health circular. This new scheme is run on the same lines as the old home help
scheme, the workers being allocated to cases under either service, the same rates
of wages being paid and the same scale being used for assessment. The periods of
employment, however, were in most cases of longer duration. From the time of
the inauguration of this service to the end of the year, 36 applications were received,
and in 29 cases domestic help was provided.
Care of Illegitimate Children. The only direct provision for the care of
illegitimate infants is provided by the scheme for "guaranteed payments" to fostermothers
undertaking the care of such infants. The Council, however, makes a
contribution to the fund administered by the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing
Joint Committee to provide financial assistance to Moral Welfare Associations.
Welfare work in this connection is carried out by each health visitor in her own
area, but there is close contact between the health visitors and the welfare workers
of the Moral Welfare Association working in the Borough. No applications were
received during 1945 for assistance under the "guaranteed payments" scheme.
Convalescence for Children Under Five. The Council makes an annual
grant to the Invalid Children's Aid Association in respect of children under five
years of age recommended for convalescence. During the year, 48 children were
sent to convalescent homes.