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
Kensington and Chelsea 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
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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 in my department and the Children's Officer informed as
to their suitability.
The following is a summary of the cases dealt with in 1967:-
| 1967 | 1966 | |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption cases | ||
| Children suitable for adoption | 29 | 22 |
| Children suitable for adoption subject to certain conditions | - | 1 |
| Children unsuitable for adoption | 1 | - |
| Couples suitable to adopt children | 21 | 12 |
| Boarding Out Cases | ||
| Children suitable for boarding out | 20 | 15 |
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND CHILDREN "AT RISK"
The Council's Handicap and Observation Register of children with
known handicaps or "at risk" of developing a handicapping condition is
compiled from several sources, and all cases are reviewed at regular
intervals. The total number of children on the register at the end
of the year was 823 compared with 957 for 1966.
The following is a summary of handicapped children who were on the register at the end of the year:-
| Handicapping Defects | Number of children | |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 1966 | |
| Defects of vision | 6 | 8 |
| Defects of hearing | 5 | 4 |
| Cerebral Palsy, orthopaedic defects, and defects of the central nervous system | 41 | 40 |
| Cardiac defects | 37 | 22 |
| Epilepsy | 6 | 9 |
| Mental retardation | 23 | 20 |
| Other handicaps | 26 | 11 |
| Multiple handicaps | 47 | 52 |
| TOTAL | 191 | 166 |
Notification of Congenital Malformations
(Corresponding figures for 1966 are shown in brackets)
During the year, 56 (80) children were notified to the RegistrarGeneral
as having congenital defects apparent at birth according to
information given by doctors and midwives on notifications of births.
These included 4 (6) stillbirths, 6 (14) children showing more than one
defect, and 2 (4) with multiple abnormalities and gross defects. The
following is a summary of defects as classified by the RegistrarGenerals:-