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Orthopcsdic and Sunlight Treatment
The majority of children under five years of age for whom
such treatment was required during 1945 were referred to the
Children's Hospital, Balaam Street, Plaistow, as follows:—
For Sunlight treatment 78
For Orthopædic treatment 93
Where in-patient orthopædic treatment was considered
necessary, the children were admitted to various hospitals in
London, the Children's Hospital, Balaam Street, not having
re-organised its in-patient work.
Convalescence
(a) Children under five years. Children were recommended
by the medical officers of hospitals, clinics, day nurseries or by
private practitioners for a period of convalescence following an
acute illness or for debility following a more chronic condition.
During 1945, 155 children were placed in suitable homes through
the Invalid and Crippled Children's Society and the Invalid
Children's Aid Association, the average duration of stay per
child being 8-10 weeks.
(b) Nursing Mothers. Fifty-five mothers with their young
infants were sent to "Child Haven," Hutton, Essex, the Home
of the West Ham Central Mission. The mothers were selected
from those attending the Child Welfare Centres or were recommended
by health visitors; frequently the mother was debilitated
following her recenc confinement, or nervous and over-anxious
in regard to the care of her young baby. The complete rest,
with the understanding help and personal interest of the nursing
staff at "Child Haven" soon restored these mothers to better
physical health and to a happier, less worried approach to their
own particular problems. "Child Haven" has achieved a
reputation amongst the mothers and the maternity and child
welfare staff, so that there is always a keen demand for
vacancies there.
Midwifery
The rise in the birth rate has produced one of the most
difficult problems in the area. Owing to the unsatisfactory
housing conditions, many more women were obliged to be
confined in hospital in 1945 than in pre-war years. In the early
months women were evacuated to Emergency Maternity Homes
because of the prevalence of local rocket incidents. The three
maternity hospitals in West Ham continued to function fully
throughout, although Plaistow Maternity Hospital carried on the
bulk of its work at the annexe at Loughton. All the hospitals
received blast damage, Forest Gate Hospital Maternity Unit
being particularly affected. Fortunately, there were no casualties
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