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Number of persons who were receiving children
for reward at the end of the year 9
Number of children on the register at the end
of the year 14
Number of children who died during the year —
During the year 63 visits were paid to the homes of the children.
No proceedings were taken under the Act during the year.
THE CARE OF PREMATURE INFANTS.
The Borough Council has taken action along the lines indicated
by the Minister as regards formulating adequate and suitable arrangements
for the care of premature infants. Local practitioners and
midwives were requested to bring full details of all such cases occurring
in domiciliary practice to the notice of the Medical Officer of
Health.
The question of the provision of suitable equipment available for
loan when required in the home was fully considered, and the articles
ordered in due course. As the Council is not a supervising authority
under the Midwives' Act, and appreciating that the Midwives would be
the first to be aware of such cases, the Health Committee gave instructions
that the equipment should be stored at the District Nursing
Association, the headquarters of the local midwives, to be drawn on
as required. The existing home help facilities are considered
adequate.
Excellent hospital accommodation is provided by the St. Helier
County Hospital, which can offer also the services of a resident paediatrician.
Special equipment has been made for the ambulance based
on the Hospital and the vehicle will be available for the transport
of all premature infants admitted. The whole question of the care
of premature infants has been discussed at meetings of district
Medical Officers of Surrey, and it is hoped that the request for a short
course of special lectures for Health Visitors and Midwives, giving up
to date instruction on the care of premature infants, can be implemented
in the near future.
THE CARE OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.
As a Maternity and Child Welfare authority, the Council has
always been fully aware of the need for special interest and care in
regard to the well-being of the unmarried mother and her infant.
The peculiar problems involved demand a great measure of tact and
sympathy from all concerned with assisting cases of this nature, and
more so during the war years, with the general tendency for increases
in illegitimacy being noted in this Borough also. The local organisation
of the Women's Voluntary Services has been most co-operative,
and the work of these ladies in augmenting the advice and assistance
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