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48
There is co-operation with a Voluntary Moral Welfare Worker in the
district and all cases are followed up by the Health Visitors.
If necessary, arrangements are made for the admission of girls with
their babies to the Essex County Council's Ardmore Hostel, Buckhurst Hill.
A number of unmarried mothers from Ilford are also accepted at the
Romford, Hornchurch and Upminster Moral Welfare Committee's Hostel at
51, Junction Road, Romford, and at 73, Caernarvon Road, Stratford.
Health Visitors and School Nurses.—The establishment of 18 in
addition to the Superintendent Health Visitor was agreed by the Ilford
Council on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health in 1947.
Unfortunately, owing to the extreme difficulty in obtaining staff, it
has been quite impossible even to approach this number in spite of repeated
advertisements and applications to various organisations.
The Ministry, however, stated that they would raise no objection to
employment of assistants to relieve the Health Visitors by undertaking
certain duties at the Infant Welfare Centres, Immunisation Clinics and in
connection with school inspection work which does not require the special
qualifications of certificated Health Visitors. It was suggested that these
nurses be known as Clinic Nurses.
The Ministry of Health have since decided that there would be no
objection to Clinic Nurses visiting the homes of children under 5 years of
age to see how they are progressing, to invite attendance at the Infant
Welfare Centres for advice from the Health Visitor or Doctor, but not in
any way to give advice.
The Essex County Council have inaugurated a Training Scheme for
Health Visitors in conjunction with the S.E. Essex Technical College. The
trainees are allocated to the Health Areas for practical instruction, and it
is hoped this scheme will help to relieve the shortage.
At the end of the year there were only 8 qualified Health Visitors and
School Nurses in addition to the Superintendent Health Visitor, and 3 Clinic
Nurses.
The following is a summary of the home visits made by the Health
Visitors and Clinic Nurses during 1949 as far as the Maternity and Child
Welfare work is concerned.
First visits to newly-born infants 2,949
Subsequent visits to children under 1 year of age 4,699
Subsequent visits to children over 1 year of age and under S 11,187
Visits to expectant mothers 49
Home visits for other reasons 2,751
Total visits paid 21,635
Day Nurseries.
(a) Becontree Day Nursery.—Work commenced on the erection of the
new Nursery in Stevens Road in April, 1949, but was not completed by the
end of the year. The Nursery, therefore, continued to occupy the premises
in Becontree Avenue, at the corner of Winding Way, with the reduced
accommodation for 40 children. The new building, with accommodation
for 50 children, was, however, available for occupation in March, 1950, the
premises in Becontree Avenue being closed down on 13th March and the
Nursery re-opening at the Stevens Road premises on 16th March, 1950.