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All children offered for adoption or boarding.out are medically examined either by
the visiting medical officer of a nursery or by a family doctor, and blood reports are
obtained.
Many children present no particular problems, but in some cases family background
or medical history may require special consideration before the child can be placed.
Prospective adopters may be interviewed by a medical officer so that the implications
of hereditary factors or a handicap may be fully explained. Advice may also be sought
on the suitability on medical grounds of prospective adopters to adopt a child.
642 children were referred by the Children's Officer for opinion as to their suitability
on medical grounds for adoption and boarding.out. Three children were considered
unfit and the remainder were grouped as follows :
1. Referred for adoption 203
(a) Fit for adoption 178
(b) Fit for adoption subject to certain
provisions 7
(c) Unfit for adoption but fit for
boarding.out 17
(id) Case still under consideration 1
2. Referred for boarding.out 436
Fit for boarding.out 434
(two cases withdrawn by Children's Officer)
Drugs, medicaments, welfare foods, etc.
Since the Ministry of Food first began to provide welfare foods, i.e., national dried
milk, orange juice, cod liver oil compound and vitamin A and D tablets, distribution has
taken place at welfare centres as well as at the local food offices, but on the closing of the
latter in the middle of 1954 the Council, in common with other local health authorities,
undertook the entire local distribution on behalf of the Ministry of Food. Considerable
reorganisation was necessary to provide transport, storage, distribution and financial
arrangements, but the transfer was effected smoothly and the needs of the public were
fully met through approximately 200 distributing points. Valuable assistance was given
by the Women's Voluntary Services, in providing 11 distributing centres and help
elsewhere, and by other volunteers.
In addition to those distributed on behalf of the Ministry of Food, other welfare
foods continued to be made available for children on the approval of a medical officer, at
fixed charges, subject to abatement where necessary. Drugs and medicaments according
to an approved list were provided free of charge when recommended by the clinic
medical officer.
Sunday cinema grants
The Council continued to receive contributions from 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 were administered by small voluntary
committees.
Marriage guidance
The Council decided, in 1951, to give financial aid over a period of five years to each
of the three marriage guidance organisations operating in London, and grants were
accordingly paid during 1954 to the London Marriage Guidance Council, the Catholic
Marriage Advisory Council and the Family Discussion Bureau of the Family Welfare
Association.
Special investigations
Investigations continued into the following matters, which were referred to in the
report for 1953 :—
Registration of rubella cases for the Ministry of Health enquiry into virus infections
during pregnancy.
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