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The leaflet states that the service is available in all cases where a need for family
planning advice is unlikely to be met in any other way and requests for it can be made
simply by telephoning one of the Council's Health Centres.
Response to this publicity was disappointing, as during November and December
only 2 referrals were made, both by members of the Council's staff. It is anticipated that
further publicity will be given to this new service during the coming year and it is hoped
that the response will be more in line with the need which is known to exist.
ADOPTION AND BOARDING-OUT OF CHILDREN
Adoption
Persons proposing to adopt children are required to submit medical certificates as to
their health before a child is placed with them. 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 and the
Director of Social Services 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 general medical 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 in my
department and the Director of Social Services informed as to their suitability.

COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES
Advising, supporting and caring for the family, the young, the handicapped, the
aged, the lonely and the sick in their health needs within their own homes has none of the
excitement of the hospital, with the drama of major surgery or modern medical miracles.
Yet at any time only quite a small proportion of the population is receiving care within the
hospital service.
The Community Nursing Services include all those nurses working within the
community setting. The district nurses provide for bedside nursing within the home. Health
visitors provide skilled advice and guidance within the home, the clinic or the surgery.
Domiciliary midwives care for the mother within the home or within the general
practitioner maternity unit attached to the hospital. State registered nurses work within the
clinics or within the schools as school nurses carrying out the variety of screening, treatment
and teaching activities required within the school health service. All nurses working within
the community undertake health education activities and have continued to provide care,
advice, guidance and education for the community, within their own homes, in clinics, in
schools, in clubs, with voluntary organisations and foundations, and in centres of advanced
education, at polytechnics, colleges and universities.