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Of 700 children in this age group who attended at the dental clinics during the
year, 355 were found to be in need of treatment.
It is desirable that pre-school children should receive early attention should they
require it, in order that they may enter school with their teeth in a reasonably sound
condition.
To this end efforts continued to be made to encourage parents of children under
school age to accept dental advice or treatment for their children.
Care of the Unsupported Mother and Her Child
Although the majority of unsupported mothers are unmarried, occasionally a
married woman may for some reason or another find herself without support. The
services of a fully qualified social worker are shared by the borough with two neighbouring
boroughs.
As there is no local authority mother and baby home in the borough, use is
made of those of other authorities and of voluntary society homes, one of which
caters especially for the very young expectant mother.
Of the 58 cases referred through various channels such as social workers, general
practitioners, health visitors, voluntary social workers, the National Council for
the Unmarried Mother and Her Child, etc., 47 were admitted to mother and baby
homes and arrangements were made for most of the remainder to be admitted at an
appropriate time.
From her first contact with the medical social worker the patient is supported
and cared for through this difficult period. Much time is also spent in reassuring
or advising distressed parents, and this often results in a re-assessment of the
situation so that the problem is handled within the family—often the most satisfactory
solution.
Where it is the wish of the mother to have the baby adopted, application is
made on her behalf to registered adoption agencies.
Of the 47 babies born to the girls admitted to mother and baby homes during
1968, 21 were kept by their mothers, 22 were adopted or awaiting adoption, two
were taken into care of the local authority, one child died, and the final placement
of the other was still under consideration at the end of the year.
"At Risk" Register
A register is kept of children who, because of some factor noted either before,
during, or after birth, may be thought to be more liable than other children to suffer
a mental or physical abnormality. These children are kept under observation by
assistant medical officers until it is established that development is normal. Children
are usually removed from the register between the ages of two and three years if
no defect has been detected by then.
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