London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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| No. | % | |
|---|---|---|
| 1,261 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 100.0 |
The percentage of mothers seen for the first time in 1954 who were under 18 years of
age was 7.2.
Table (ii)—Nationality by normal residence
| London (Administrati ve County) | Elsewhere | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
*688 were pregnant on arrival in London.
Approximately half the mothers interviewed by Catholic moral welfare associations
for the first time in 1959 came from Eire and about a quarter of these mothers were pregnant
on arrival in England.
The moral welfare associations report an increasing awareness of this problem by
the appropriate authorities in Eire. Closer relationship has been established with the Irish
moral welfare organisations and about half the girls who were pregnant on arrival in this
country during 1959 were helped by moral welfare associations in both countries to return
to Eire for confinement. The problem is being carefully watched by the moral welfare
associations and it is hoped that, with the wider and improved services now being offered
to such mothers in Eire, particularly in regard to adoption, for which the waiting period
has been reduced from two years to two months, the number of pregnant girls coming to
England will be greatly reduced.
Efforts are also being made by Church authorities to keep close contact with young
girl immigrants from Eire who have taken up work in London.
Illegitimate babies—