View report page

36
HOMES FOR MOTHERS AND BABIES
There are no homes for mothers and babies in the borough.
During 1968 the Council accepted financial responsibility for 22
unmarried mothers sent to homes run by other authorities or voluntary
organisations. The usual period of acceptance is for six weeks
before and six weeks after confinement.
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS FOR MOTHERS AND Y0UNG CHILDREN
Holidays were arranged for 10 mothers whose home conditions
were poor. They were accompanied by a total of 15 young children.
Of these only 4 families stayed for the full period.
One family returned home for domestic reasons and 5
families returned home because conditions in the holiday home were
reported to be unsatisfactory. The home concerned has since closed.
CHILDREN "AT RISK"
Cases of children who are thought to be specially
susceptible to handicaps are reported at birth by midwives, on special
cards printed for the purpose. From these and other reports the
"at risk" register is compiled and the medical and nursing staff pay
particular attention to the babies who are included. Screening tests
for impaired hearing are carried out and the babies are also watched
carefully in case any evidence of the relevant abnormalities develops.
Information about children remaining on this register at
the age of five years is transferred to the school health records.
The total number of children on this register at
31st December 1968 was 3,437.
Of the 2,110 children born alive in the borough during 1968,
842 were added to the "at risk" register, a percentage of 39.9. Many
children are taken off the register when it is established that their
physical and mental development is normal and they are no longer
considered to be "at risk". Children are also removed at the time of
entry to school. The number removed in 1968 was 1,006.
The register is used to indicate children in the 0-5 age
group who are likely to require special educational facilities. This