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register of patients 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 with all rules of the Act,
and with the regulations of the Council, such as the provision of a
fire-guard, separate and suitable sleeping accommodation, and
regular attendance at an infant welfare centre until the child goes
to school. The homes are visited at least once every two months by
the health visitor, and any difficulty is reported at once to the
senior assistant medical officer for maternity and child welfare.
During 1937 the number of visits paid by health visitors,
acting as infant life protection visitors under this Act, was 349
The number includes 40 first visits.
Number of foster mothers on register at beginning of 1937 44
Number of fosters mothers on register at end of 1937 34
Number of foster children on register at beginning of 1937 44
Number of foster children placed on register during 1937 21
Number of foster children who ceased to come under the
provisions of the Act during 1937 28
Number of foster children on register at end of 1937 39
Number of deaths occurring in foster children during 1937 -
Those children who ceased to come under the provisions of
the Act had either reached the age of nine years, or had been
legally adopted by the foster parent, or returned to the care of
their own parent or a near relative.
In most cases the parent or parents of the child pay the
weekly charge direct to the foster mother; the amount varies on
an average from five shillings to twelve-and-six per week. The
local authority accepts no responsibility for the regular weekly
payment or for the amount charged to the child's parent.
Free meals for expectant and nursing mothers.
This scheme, which commenced in January, 1936, provides
for a free dinner daily, including Sundays and public holidays, to
necessitous expectant mothers from the time when their condition
is diagnosed, and to necessitous nursing mothers. Application for
this help can only be made to the medical officers of the maternity
and child welfare clinics, who are required to sign the medical
certificates accompanying the applications sent to the medical
officer of health.
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