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Drugs, medicaments, welfare foods, etc.
Cod liver oil compound, tablets of Vitamins A and D, national dried milk and
concentrated orange juice were distributed at welfare centres on behalf of the Ministry
of Food. In addition a number of welfare foods and nutrients were available, when
approved by the clinic medical officer, at fixed charges, subject to abatement where
necessary. Simple drugs and medicaments according to an approved list were provided
free of charge when recommended by the clinic medical officer. The list of items is
reviewed by a departmental committee from time to time.
Sunday cinema grants
The Council continued to receive contributions from the Sunday cinematograph
entertainments, out of which an allocation was made to each of the nine health divisions
for the purpose of providing amenities for mothers and children attending the welfare
centres and day nurseries. These amenity funds are administered by small voluntary
committees.
Marriage guidance
The Council makes a grant to each of the three marriage guidance organisations operating
in London—the London Marriage Guidance Council, the Catholic Marriage Advisory
Council and the Family Discussion Bureaux of the Family Welfare Association. All
these organisations devote part of their effort to pre-marriage work. The London
Marriage Guidance Council and the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, in particular,
extended their activities during the year in connection with preparation for marriage
and family life. The London Marriage Guidance Council arranged discussion groups
and individual consultations to meet the need of the increasing numbers of young people
seeking advice and help. The Catholic Marriage Advisory Council ran pre-marriage
training courses in various parts of London and also youth club courses. During the
year the Family Discussion Bureaux undertook research work into the value of the
methods applied by their organisation.
Ministry of
Health inquiry
into virus
infections
during
pregnancy
Investigation
into the early
detection of
cerebral palsy
Special investigations
The registration of new cases and controls for the Ministry of Health inquiry into virus
infections during pregnancy ceased at the end of 1952, but the Council in common
with a few of the larger authorities, was asked to continue to register, and follow up,
rubella cases. At the end of the year 14 cases had been registered.
The 1952 Annual Report referred to facilities which had been granted to Dr. W. F.
Dunham, of the Department of Physical Medicine at Charing Cross Hospital for carrying
out a pilot scheme of research into the early detection of infantile cerebral palsy amongst
selected babies at special sessions at maternity and child welfare centres in Health
Division 9. The pilot scheme was successfully completed and the Council agreed that
it could be extended to the other health divisions in turn. At the end of the year the
survey in health division 8 had been completed.
Investigation
into the health
history of
female
children who
have never
received
human milk.
Survey of
illegitimate
children
The Council is co-operating in an investigation, being conducted by Mr. H. J. B.
Atkins, Director of the Department of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, under which a follow-up
is carried out of female children who have never received any human milk. It is hoped
to build up a panel of 5,000 cases. The collection of the panel throughout the country
may take up to ten years.
A survey is being undertaken of illegitimate children born in London in November,
1953, and May, 1954, to establish what changes occur in the environment of children
of unmarried mothers in the first five years of life and to try to assess the effects of these
changes on their mental and physical development, as well as their experience of