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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
The opinions on the children referred by the Children's Officer in 1958 and two previous years were as follows :
| 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Considered unfit for either adoption or boarding out | 4 | 3 | 3 | |||
| 2. Referred for adoption: | ||||||
| (a) Fit for adoption | 147 | 178 | 167 | |||
| 7 | 8 | 2 | ||||
| (c) Unfit for adoption but fit for boarding out | 15 | 7 | 17 | |||
| (d) Withdrawn by Children's Officer | 1 | 8 | 3 | |||
| (e) Still under consideration | 3 | 173 | 4 | 205 | 1 | 190 |
| 3. Referred for boarding out: | ||||||
| (a) Fit for boarding out | 324 | 310 | 320 | |||
| (b) Withdrawn by Children's Officer | 2 | 7 | 3 | |||
| (c) Still under consideration | — | 326 | 5 | 322 | 1 | 324 |
| TOTAL | 503 | 530 | 517 | |||
Care of the Unmarried Mother and her Child
Mother and
baby homes
One mother and baby home is managed by the Welfare Committee together with
two units in larger establishments. Other homes are provided by voluntary organisations
supported by grants in aid from the Council.
1956 1957 1958
Number of voluntary homes receiving grant at 31
December 18 17 16
Number of expectant and nursing mothers admitted 1,306 1,141 1,191
Total grants £10,758 £11,360 £10,476
Moral
Welfare
Associations
Financial assistance to the five large moral welfare associations of the major religious denominations was continued.
| 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | £9,625 | £9,625 | £12,531 |
| Number of expectant and nursing mothers advised | 2,908 | 2,684 | 2,975 |
The increase in the grants for 1958 was mainly due to the payment by the associations
of higher salaries to their moral welfare workers.
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, Jewish Board of Guardians). Table (i)—Mothers seen for the first time in 1958
| Age of mother | No. | % |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 years | 249 | 8.4 |
| 18-24 years | 1,788 | 60.1 |
| 25-34 years | 771 | 25.9 |
| Over 35 years | 163 | 5.5 |
| Not known | 4 | 01 |
| 2,975 | 1000 |