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Maternal Deaths
During 1945 there were 6 maternal deaths of West Ham
residents. One death was caused by puerperal sepsis and five
from other maternal causes.
Child Life Protection and Adoption of Children
Full investigation and supervision in all such cases was
carried out by the Maternity and Child Welfare medical officer
and health visitors. At the end of 1945, 12 foster-children were
under supervision, and 4 children under Section 7 of the
Adoption of Children (Regulation) Act, 1939.
Increasingly, the services of the maternity and child welfare
staff have been used to place suitable children with West Ham
residents with a view to legal adoption. The registered Adoption
Societies requested reports from the health visitors before and
after a child was placed with prospective adopters; or in certain
cases the child was handed over to a prospective adopter by an
official of this department. In every case a complete investigation
was carried out prior to this action to ensure that the child
would be happy and well looked after.
Day Nurseries
During 1945, the six war-time day nurseries continued to
function fully. Plans were made to transfer the Howards Road
Nursery, these premises being required for use by the Plaistow
Maternity Hospital. Accordingly, early in January, 1946, the
Howards Road Day Nursery was transferred to the Children's
Hospital, Balaam Street, Plaistow. Up to date, the nurseries
are fully used by women still employed in factories, domestic
work, shops and canteens, and there still remains a long waiting
list and a big demand for the services of nurseries.
The health of the child at the nurseries during 1945 was
good, except for minor epidemics of certain infectious diseases
such as chicken-pox and measles. Every child who had not
already been inoculated was immunised soon after admission
against diphtheria and whooping cough.
The chief difficulty in regard to staff was to obtain sufficient
probationer nursery nurses. Training was given to all suitable
probationers for the Certificate of the National Society of
Children's Nurseries.
In spite of the close proximity to certain rocket incidents,
the nurseries sustained only slight blast damage and there were
no casualties amongst the staff or children.
The nurseries were visited by officials from the National
Society of Children's Nurseries, to which organisation each
nursery is affiliated, and the reports received were gratifying in
regard to general management of the nursery and appearance
of the children.
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