VPRS 18260 Baby and Child Nursing Record Cards

This series consists of the baby and child record card system entitled Nursing Card Bethany Babies' Home. The cards were compiled by the nursing staff of the home which, by the late 1950s, Bethany catered for new born infants and children up to four years of age.The cards are divided into two sections:- general birth information on each baby (but no information on the birth parents)- development and health information (including routine health assessments by the nursing staff and any other medical treatments).The last entry is usually Discharged and the date the baby left the home, with no other details provided.The birth information captured in the first section of the cards was recorded under the following headings:- Doctor's name (hand written on the top of the card)- Date of birth- Name- Sex- Date of Admission- Weight at Birth- Weight on Admission.The second section of each card is arranged in a column format featuring the following headings:- Date- Age- Weight- Diet (milk and food provided as well as diet supplements, for example Pentavite syrup)- Remarks (information on feeding, bowel movements, teething and general health).Some of the cards have attached documents, in some instances an envelope of records, relating to the history of the baby. The attached records can include such information as the names of the biological parents, birth details and other medical information on each baby. The types of documents attached to the cards include:- copies of departmental correspondence- notes and index card from the hospital where the baby was born- photocopies of the M14A Infant Record form- Infant Welfare Centre booklet, developmental charts- Urine-Bacteriology, Neonatal-Serology and other medical reports- Immunisation Card;- copies of MR 12 Special Investigations and MR 5 Progress Sheet forms, etc.Within this card system are a small percentage of Baby Card enclosures. These cards seem to document babies who were discharged quickly without an extended period at the Home. Most of the sections of the card were not used, with the only information recorded: Name; Sex; Date of Birth and some dated entries from the nursing staff. These generally comprise the date and infant's weight, as well as the date the baby was discharged from the home. These cards do not indicate where the baby was discharged to.At the end of the first box (consignment P0001, unit number 1) in the series, is a 1982 note of an unsuccessful research request, from an adopted child where no information was found in the admission book. This request has no connection with the remainder of the records.