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MISCELLANEOUS
ADOPTION AND BOARDING-OUT
The number of medical reports received from the Children's Officer in 1967
relating to prospective adopters and to children proposed for adoption and boarding
out showed a considerable increase over the previous year. These reports are examined
by a senior medical officer for possible medical contra-indications to the intended
arrangements and, where necessary, additional information is sought from hospitals
and general practitioners.
During the year, 24 children were considered suitable for adoption and 24 for
boarding-out. Similar recommendations were made on 32 prospective adopters.
However, two children were considered medically unsuitable for adoption and one
for boarding-out; one prospective adopter was considered medically unsuitable to
adopt a child.
In addition, many enquiries were carried out at the request of the Children's
Officer for information appertaining to initial applications from persons wishing to
adopt or foster a child.
CHILDREN'S AND WELFARE COMMITTEES ESTABLISHMENTS'
Part-time visiting medical officers hold appointments at residential nurseries,
and at large and small homes for children, the aged and infirm, homeless family
units, etc. A senior medical officer exercised general medical supervision of the
establishments and gave special attention to short-stay accommodation for homeless
families.
THE SOUTH EAST LONDON GENERAL PRACTITIONER'S CENTRE
This report covers the second full year since the Centre became the responsibility
of the London Borough of Southwark so that it is now possible to make a strict
comparison of the work carried out and the progress which has been achieved.
I—General
The volume of work carried out has increased and the number of general
practitioners who have used the Centre risen from 242 to 272.
The pattern of work has not changed appreciably but the hope that more space
could be made available to include other activities of the Health Department has not
materialised. This is to be regretted as a design could have been produced which
would demonstrate the greater advantages of this type of Centre to the Health
Centres designed at the inception of the National Health Service and now being
produced in increasing numbers.
Visits
There has been an increase in the interest in the function and work of the Centre
taken by visitors both from this country and from overseas. In addition to the normal
categories of nurses, health visitors, social workers, school children, students, general
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