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report on the foster mother and her home was made by the
Health Visitor to determine the suitability of the applicant to
assume this responsibility.
During 1947 11 children under 9 years of age were received
into homes as foster children in the care of registered foster
mothers. No deaths occurred among these children, and no
legal proceedings were taken in accordance with the provisions
of the above Act.
Under the Adoption of Children (Regulations) Act, 1939,
5 children under 9 years were supervised by the Health Visitors.
DAY NURSERIES. The 5 Day Nurseries were fully used
throughout the year, there being always a very considerable
waiting list for each, but particularly for the Liverpool Road
Day Nursery. Another Day Nursery to replace the Ashburton
Nursery, destroyed by enemy air action in June, 1944, was
required in the docks area, but sanction of the Ministry of
Health to erect a Nursery on the site chosen was not granted.
The day-to-day work at each Nursery proceeded smoothly,
and there were no major epidemics to upset the routine.
Unfortunately, repeated burglaries took place from all the
Nurseries. While the thieving was of a petty type, yet such
disturbances caused considerable upheaval and disarray, thus
adding to the work of the nursing staffs.
A course of lectures was begun in January, 1947, at the
West Ham Technical College, to prepare the Nursery students
for the examination of the Nursery Nurses' Examination Board,
and to obviate the attendance of the West Ham girls at the
South-West Essex Technical College, Walthamstow, which they
had hitherto attended. The training extends over 18 months,
and each student must be 18 years of age and have worked for
2 years in an approved Nursery before taking the examination.
HOME-HELP SERVICE. During the year 1947, 228 applicants
received this help, of whom 67 were general sickness or
infirmity and 161 maternity cases. The Home-Help Organiser
was appointed, and commenced duty 28th April, 1947, and from
that date to 31st December, 1947, the following work was carried
out:—
436 visits were made to maternity applicants.
241 visits were made to maternity home helps.
289 office interviews regarding maternity home help.
308 visits were made to general sickness applicants.
86 visits were made to general sickness home helps.
461 office interviews regarding general sickness home
helps.
The first permanent home helps were appointed in August,
1947; the rest of the help required was provided by part-time
workers.
The general sickness scheme developed from 2 applicants
in January to 13 in December.
Maternity applications dropped slightly towards the end of
the year.
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