London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Greenwich 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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129
Unsupported Mothers (see also page 147)
Unsupported mothers were put in touch with Moral Welfare
Workers who, in most cases, arranged for admission to a Mother
and Baby Home during the ante-natal period.
Following confinement, most mothers returned to the Mother and
Baby Homes, some rejoined their families while others preferred
to find lodgings. Occasionally, mothers requested the Children's
Department to arrange for the adoption of their babies. However,
where the mother wished to rear her child, every assistance was
given by the health visitors with priority admission to a Day
Nursery or recommendation to known child minders.
During 1970, 98 women contacted the undermentioned Moral
Welfare Organisations in Greenwich:—
Southwark Catholic Children's Society 6
Southwark Diocesan Association 92
Compiled from information supplied by the Registrar-General and the G.L.C., the following table gives the total number of illegitimate births in the Borough during the current year and indicates the numbers and ages of mothers seeking advice and assistance:—
| Illegitimate Births | Ages of Mothers | Number Seeking Help |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Under 15 years | 1 |
| 106 | 15—19 years | 59 |
| 104 | 20—24 years | 32 |
| 58 | 25—29 years | 4 |
| 27 | 30—34 years | 1 |
| 14 | 35 years and over | 1 |
| — | Not known | — |
| 311 | Totals | 98 |
Of the five women seeking help after their arrival in London,
some 4 or 80% were already pregnant. Twelve of the total of
98 given assistance were not of British origin.
Welfare Foods
Since the closure of the local offices of the Ministry of Food in
1954, responsibility for the distribution of National Welfare Foods
has passed, via the London County Council, to the London Borough
of Greenwich. Under the Ministry's scheme, food and nutrients to