London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
The following statistical tables relate only to cases dealt with by the five Moral
Welfare Associations (London Diocesan Council, Southwark Diocesan Association,
Westminster Catholic Social Welfare Committee (Crusade of Rescue), Southwark
Catholic Rescue Society, Jewish Board of Guardians).
Table (i)
| Age of mother | No. | Per cent. |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 years | 234 | 8.7 |
| 18-24 years | 1,485 | 55.3 |
| 25-34 years | 783 | 29.2 |
| Over 35 years | 172 | 6.4 |
| Not known | 10 | 0.4 |
| 2,684 | 100.0 |
Table (ii) Referring Agency
| No. | Per cent. | |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital | 1,082 | 40.3 |
| National Council for the Unmarried Mother and her Child, and other Voluntary Agencies | 542 | 20.2 |
| Health, Welfare and other Local Authority Departments | 439 | 16.4 |
| Clergy, Church Workers | 239 | 8.9 |
| Employers, friends | 102 | 3.8 |
| Personal application | 95 | 3.5 |
| National Assistance Board, Employment Exchanges, etc. | 12 | 0.4 |
| Any other | 173 | 6.5 |
| 2,684 | 100.0 |
Table (iii) Nationality—Normal residence
| London (Admin. County) | Elsewhere | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| British | 1,142 | 368 | 1,510 |
| Eire | 330 | 302 | 632 |
| West Indian | 225 | 148 | 373 |
| European | 59 | 34 | 93 |
| Other | 42 | 34 | 76 |
| 1,798 | 886* | 2,684 |
* 631 were pregnant on arrival in London.
Table (iv)
| No. | Per cent. | |
|---|---|---|
| Actually in mother's care | 955 | 52.5 |
| Adopted or placed for adoption | 374 | 20.5 |
| Mother responsible for and has access to child | 293 | 16.0 |
| Mother and child moved away | 95 | 5.2 |
| In care of local authority | 62 | 3.4 |
| Died | 34 | 1.9 |
| Miscellaneous, e.g., in hospital | 9 | 0.5 |
| 1,822 | 100.0 |