View report page

- 41 -
These certificates are verified by the Council's medical officers before
consent is given.
Similarly, the medical records of the children to be adopted are
scrutinised carefully, and the Children's Officer advised on the child's
suitability for adoption.
Should the reports reveal any medical defects, inheritable disease
or handicap in the child, further enquiries are made and, in the case of
inheritable disease in the natural parents, the prospective parents are
interviewed by their own practitioner.
Boarding Out.
The medical examination is given in accordance with the Boarding Out
of Children Regulations, 1955. and includes the Wasserman and/or Kahn
tests except where the child is over school leaving age or is boarded out
in an emergency or in accordance with Part III of the Regulations.
Again, the results of these medical examinations are scrutinised and
the Children's Officer informed accordingly.
The following is a summary of the cases dealt with in 1966:-
1966
1965
Adoption cases
Children suitable for adoption
22
17
Children suitable for adoption
subject to certain conditions
1
9
Children unsuitable for adoption
—
1
Couples suitable to adopt children
12
10
Boarding Out cases
Children suitable for boarding out
15
3
Handicapped Children and Children "At. Risk".
Information from several sources contributes to the maintenance of
the Council's Handicap and Observation Register of children with known
handicaps or "at risk" of developing a handicapping condition. The
total number of children under five years of age on the register at
31st December, 1966, was 957 compared with 945 in 1965, and this
included 166 and 161 respectively handicapped children.
1966 1965
'
Summary of defects -
Defects of vision 8 4
Defects of hearing 4 4
Cerebral palsy and
orthopaedic defects 40 46
Cardiac defects 22 25
Epilepsy 9 11
Mental retardation 20 29
Other handicaps 11 15
Multiple handicaps 52 27