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Children and Young Persons' Act, 1932.
Foster Children.
Under Part 1 of this Act the supervision of the foster children
and of the homes of the foster mothers is carried out by the
Municipal Health Visitors in their respective districts. Application
for registration as a foster mother under the Act is sanctioned
by the Council on the recommendation of the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee.
Before the foster mother's application is approved, a detailed
enquiry is made by the Infant Life Protection Visitor of the district,
and in all those cases that are known to the Public Assistance
Officer a report is received in regard to home and economic conditions.
The register of cases notified as suffering from Tuberculosis
is consulted in order to eliminate any possibility of introducing
a child into an infected family.
The foster mother must comply, if registered, with all rules
under this Act and with the regulations of the Council, which include
provision of a fire-guard, separate and suitable sleeping
accommodation for the child, and attendance at an Infant Welfare
Centre in the Borough until such time as the child goes to school.
Registered foster mothers are visited as a routine by the
Health Visitor at least once every two months.
In no case was legal proceedings taken in 1934.
At the end of 1934 there were 56 foster-mothers on the Register,
and 59 children registered as foster children.
One application to be registered as a foster-mother was refused
by the Council owing to the home conditions being unsuitable
for the reception of a child.
Registration was cancelled in one case because of the persistent
refusal of the foster-mother to maintain the Council's requirements.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
During 1934 there were 15 cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
notified to the Medical Officer of Health. The Health Visitors
investigate and report upon all such cases occurring in West Ham
residents. Weekly or more frequent visits are paid until the case
is completed in order to ensure that the mother carries out the
treatment recommended.
I he Council have an agreement with the London County
Council whereby an infected infant and its mother can be admitted
immediately to St Margaret's Hospital, Kentish Town, for specialist
treatment.
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