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Care of Illegitimate Children.—Ministry of Health Circular 2866 (1943).
The Wimbledon and Merton Moral Welfare Association have
a welfare worker who deals with the problems arising in connection
with unmarried mothers and the care of illegitimate children in this
area.
During 1946 the Wimbledon Borough Council accepted responsibility
for payment in respect of the maintenance of seven unmarried
mothers who were placed in Mother and Baby Homes prior to their
confinement. The usual period for which mothers remain in the
Homes is for about one month before confinement and two months
afterwards. The total cost to the Council of these cases during 1946
was as under:-—
Putney Mother and Baby Home—
4 cases at a total cost of £55 5s. Od.
Grayshott Mother and Baby Home—
2 cases at a total cost of £39 17s. 9d.
Stretton House Mother and Baby Home, S.E.12—
1 case at a cost of £12 Os. Od.
The Wimbledon Borough Council also made a grant of £5 to the
Southwark Catholic Rescue Society towards the convalescence of an
unmarried mother with her baby.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
The following table shows that eight cases of ophthalmia neonatorum
were notified.
In no case did any impairment of vision occur.