London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Tower Hamlets 1970

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tower Hamlets, London Borough]

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The following is a summary of the cases dealt with from 1967 - 1970:-

1970196919681967
Adopt ion Cases
Children suitable for adoption25333737
Children suitable for adoption subject to certain conditions----
Children unsuitable for adoption--11
Couples suitable to adopt children23393654
Couples unsuitable to adopt children--12
Boarding Out Cases
Children suitable for boarding out44433357

CERVICAL CYTOLOGY
The service for the collection of cervical smears for cytology investigation
by hospital authorities continued during the year with sessions in the Council's
clinics. In addition a general practitioner continued holding regular sessions
in his surgery, assisted by a member of the staff of the Health Department, and
the Family Planning Association continued taking smears at sessions held in
Council clinics. From these 2,055 examinations were carried out. In addition,
hospitals in the area read 11,783 slides and although all the latter did not
refer to borough residents it can be assumed that the majority did.
Details will be found on page 92 of the Appendix.
CONGENITAL DEFECTS
Notification of congenital abnormalities under the national scheme recommended
by the Ministry of Health in 1963 continued throughout the year. Defects found in
stil lborn and 1iveborn children within 36 hours of birth were noted on birth notification
forms by hospital or domiciliary staff, details of which are as follows:-
Number of babies notified as having one or
more congenita] defects 36
Number of stillbirths and 1ivebirths notified
over the same period 2,503
The rate of notifications per 1,000 total births was 14.3 compared with 12.8
last year.
There are obvious difficulties in assessing the real incidence of congenital
defects under such a voluntary scheme, but some help does flow in maintaining
observation registers and in follow-up to assess any handicap.
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