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THE CARS OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN
Ministry of Health
Circular 2866 May 1944,
In order* to facilitate the carrying out of instructions
and suggestions of the Minister, a conference of all Welfare Authorities
in Middlesex was called by the County Medical Officer.
The County Medical Officer stated that "Investigations
"carried out before calling the conference indicated that the problem was
"at present largely a County concern in" that it was being encountered by
"the Almoners in the Maternity Departments of the County Hospitals
"where-50% of the births occur), by the public Assistance Department,
"in the County V.D.Clinics, and in the County's Maternity and Child
"Welfare area by the County Midwives and Health Visitors.
" The cases to be. dealt with fall into three classes:
" (a) .those in which, the girl is able to return home to her
" parents with her baby,
" (b) those in which adaption of the child is advisible on
" account of the extreme youth of the mother, or of the
* fact that she is a married woman, and
" (c) those for which there is need of shelter to which the
" mother after confinement, may go with her baby and stay
" for a time in an atmosphere of. security until with
" sympathy and help she is able to re-establish herself
" and make a permanent home for herself and child."
(a) and (b) are dealt with by special attention by Health'
Visitors in co-operation with the Hammersmith Moral Welfare Society;
as regards (c) this Authority joined in the County scheme in which a
spccial services almoner (Miss Myer) was appointed to visit and
investigate cases on the lines laid down in the Circular and consult
with Health Visitors and other workers.
The County also overcame perhaps the most difficult problem
of finding accommodation for the expectant mother, and for the mother
and child,by making arrangements with the British Red Cross for beds
in two hostels:-
(1) Before the birth of child at l6, The Park,
Golders Green.
(2) After the birth of child at B.R.C.Hostel
"Maryland", Hendon.
The charge is 35/- per week at each hostel, and this charge
includes the baby at "Maryland".