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Medical Arrangements
(a) Before a child is boarded-out a full medical examination is undertaken, and the report
is submitted to the Medical Officer of Health for approval that the child is fit to be boarded-out
under the Regulations.
(b) Medical Examinations during the boarding-out - A child boarded-out must be examined
by a duly qualified medical practitioner
(i) within one month after being boarded-out, unless the child has attained the age of
2 years, and has been medically examined within three months before being boardedout,
and
(ii) at least once in every six months if he has not attained the age of two years, or at
least once a year if he has attained that age.
The reports of subsequent medical examinations are not seen by a Medical Officer In
the riormal course of events, and would only be referred to the Medical Officer of Health if the
Senior Child Care Officer and Child Care Off.cer who receive the report were concerned about
any matters affecting the child.
(c) Apart from these statutory requirements for medical examination and report, it is the
duty of the local authority to ensure tl^et adequate arrangements are made for a child boarded-out
to receive medical and dental attention as required. This is dealt with by the Child Care Officer
who, on her visit, would comment on the child's health, and be assured that in fact adequate
arrangements had been made. This generally means that the child is registered with the same
doctor as the foster parents, and there is usually no difficulty.
Child Protection - Children Act, 1958
There is no statutory requirement that a child should be medically examined on being
placed with a private foster parent, but again it would be the responsibility of the visiting Child
Care Officer to be assured, so far as was reasonable, that the child was being well-treated, and
to advise if any medical attention appeared to be necessary.
There is the additional medical supervision given to all children under five by the Health
Visitor under the Public Health Act, and this is followed by medical surveillance provided by the
School Health Service.
Hammersmith Homes
The Administration of Children's Homes (Regulation s, 1951 .provide that the Medical Officer
appointed shall supervise the compilation of a medical record for each child accommodated in a
Home and that this shall contain particulars of the medical history of thexhild,before admission,
so far as it .is known; his physical and mental condition on admission; his medical history while
accommodated in the home; and his condition on discharge from the home. A card >is used for this
information and is normally kept up to date by the House parent-in-Charge.
The Home Office, in July 1951, recommended
"42 that the frequency of medical .examinations, of dental inspections, and of other
routine arrangements should be as follows:
(a) Medical examination
On Admission.
At leasfmonthly for children aged 0-1 year
At least quarterly for children aged 1-5 years
At least yearly for children over the age of 5
On discharge
(b) Weight (in a single garment)
On admission.
Weekly - for children aged 0- 6 months.
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