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No. of
beds
West Ham
No. of
cases
admitted
Residents
No. of
weeks
spent
St. Mary's Hospital, E.13 10 222 681
Children's Hospital, Balaam Street, E.13
(a) Babies' Ward 16 200 773
(b) Orthopaedic Ward 4 22 75
Arrangements are in force with the Committees of Queen
Mary's Hospital, Stratford, and St. Mary's Hospital, Plaistow,
for the treatment by Specialists of ear, nose and throat defects in
young children.
Convalescent Homes for Children under 5 years of age.
The majority of young children referred for convalescence
are sent to homes through the aid of the Invalid and Crippled
Children's Society and the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
Recently it has been possible to admit children of 4 years and
over to the West Ham Convalescent Home, Margate. The
children are all examined prior to being sent away by one of the
Medical Officers for Maternity and Child Welfare.
A large proportion of these young children are referred for
convalescence from the various Infant Welfare Clinics in the
Borough. Some are debilitated as a result of recent illness, others
are found to be suffering from malnutrition and anaemia
attributable in many cases to faulty routine and wrong feeding in
the homes. A period of regular training and supervision, with
a well-balanced suitable diet usually restores these children to
normal health, and produces permanent benefit.
That the Medical Officers of the Clinics make full use of the
valuable treatment for the children is evident in that, during 1933,
262 children were sent to Convalescent Homes for periods varying
from one to three months, being an increase of 43 as compared
with the number sent away in 1932, and no less than 239 over
the number sent in 1925.
Convalescence for Nursing Mothers and Infants.
As in ,1932, the Council retained two beds for nursing mothers
and infants, who must be under three months of age. One
mother with her infant is sent each fortnight of the year to "Child
Haven, Brentwood, the Convalescent Home of the West Ham
Central Mission; similarly, one mother with infant is sent every
fortnight to the London Mothers' Convalescent Home, Sunningdale.
The mothers are recommended for convalescence through
the Medical Officers of the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres,
and are examined in every case prior to admission by the Senior
Assistant Medical Officer for Maternity and Child Welfare. The
mothers appreciate very greatly the kind attention and help they
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