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ADMINISTRATION OF PART I. OF THE CHILDREN ACT, 1908, AS AMENDE^
BY PART V. OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT, 1932.
The Infant Life Protection work has continued during the year without much change in
the numbers on the register. At the end of the year there were 66 foster-mothers who were
undertaking the care of 82 foster-children, compared with 62 foster-mothers and 90 fosterchildren,
at the end of the previous year.
It is unfortunate that I have to record the death of five foster-children during 1936. Four
of these children had been in the care of a foster-mother who was a certified midwife and trained
nurse who had come into the Borough from the County Area. The cause of death in one case
was Broncho Pneumonia. (This child died whilst in the care of the foster-mother—two doctors
were in attendance—no Inquest was held. The cause of death in the other three cases was
Gastro Enteritis. In each case death took place in the West Middlesex County Hospital.
The foster-mother in question had been under regular supervision by my Department and
the children were always found to be clean and well cared for. The Coroner's Officer visited
the home and as the result of his report, the Coroner decided that there was no need to hold an
Inquest. This foster-mother's unfortunate experience resulted in her giving up altogether the
care and maintenance of foster-children.
The fifth death took place in another part of the area. No Inquest was held as death was
considered to be due to natural causes (Congenital heart disease due to foramen ovale. Enlarged
Thymus was a contributory cause of death).
It was not necessary to take Proceedings during the year under either of the Acts.
Particulars of the Law relating to this work are made known by notices in the local press
from time to time, and information is also supplied at the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres,
and the Public Health Department. All the Health Visitors are fully acquainted with the requirements
of the Law, and they promptly investigate and report on such cases as come to their
knowledge by verbal reports. By the decision of the Housing and Town Planning Committee,
foster-children are not allowed to be received by tenants of Council Houses,
When a foster-child removes to an address outside the area, full details are sent immediately
to the appropriate Authority ; and any foster-child arriving in this area, whether it is reported to
have come to its parents or not, is visited to see that all is satisfactory.
A list is kept of approved persons who wish to undertake the nursing and maintenance of
a foster-child. No person is placed on this list until full details of her circumstances, etc., have
been supplied, and the Health Visitor has found the condition of the home satisfactory.
Every six months a full report on the work is submitted to the Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee containing a list of all the foster-mothers and children in the area, details of any
exceptional matters, and a statement as to any disciplinary action it has been necessary to take
since the last report.
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