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27
Care of Premature Children.— In accordance with the recommendations
set out in Ministry of Health Circular No. 20/44 with
regard to the care of premature infants, provision has been made
on the notification of birth forms for the supply of information as
to birth-weight of premature infants when this is 5½ lbs. or less.
Thus, the Health Visitors now have early information of premature
infants who may need special supervision, and can report as to the
need of equipment in the home, the services of a Home Help or any
of the special arrangements recommended to the Minister of Health
by his Advisory Committee on the Welfare of Mothers and YoungChildren
.
The following are particulars of the premature infants notified
during the year:—
No. of Hackney babies who weighed 5½ lbs. or less at birth—
(a) Born alive 113
(b) Stillborn 14
No. of premature babies born in Hackney—
(a) At home 11 living and 4 stillborn.
(b) In hospital 170 living and 25 stillborn.
Of the 11 living premature babies born at home 8 were known
to have survived the first month of life. One baby was removed
to another address and could not be traced.
Of the 170 living premature babies born in hospital 131 were
known to have survived the first month of life and 3 could not be
traced.