London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Ealing 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]

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29
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

The supervision of fostermothers is carried out by the Health Visitors who have all been appointed Infant Life Protection Visitors. Information regarding foster-children registered in the Borough is contained in the following table:—

Number of children on the register at the beginning of the year (Number of fostermothers having care of the above children, 92).121
Number of children registered during the year122
Number of children removed from register during year:
Removed to care of parent or relative68
Removed to another fostermother16
Removed for adoption through a Society9
Removed to a Children's Home or School24
Legally adopted by fostermother2
Died (Inquest held : None)1
Fostermother left district6
Attained nine years of age4
Removed from care of fostermother at request of Medical Officer of Health7
137
Number of children on register at end of year (Number of fostermothers having care of the above children, 86).106
Number of visits made by Health Visitors784

In seven cases it was found necessary to request that a child
be removed from a person who had undertaken its care, in six
cases because the proposed fostermother or her housing conditions
were considered unsuitable and in the seventh case because the
fostermother had received a child in excess of the number for
which she was approved. In each case the child was removed
without any legal action being necessary.
MIDWIFERY SERVICE.
The Midwifery Service established by the Council in accordance
with the provisions of the Midwives Act, 1936, came into operation
on the 1st May, 1937. By the end of the year, therefore, the Service
had been in operation for a period of eight months.