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
Willesden 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
This page requires JavaScript
56
THE THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
for the
Year ending 31st December, 1932,
on
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.
The arrangements made by the Council for discharging the functions of the Local Authority
under Part I. of the Children Act, 1908, were dealt with in the 1930 Annual Health Report. The
existing Health Visitors have been appointed Infant Protection Visitors. The Council fix the number
of children to be kept by each foster mother. They consider cases where there appears to be any
contravention of Part I. of the Children Act, 1908, or where the foster mother or foster home appears
unsuitable. They draw the attention of the public to the requirements of the Act from time to time
by means of posters, handbills, and advertisements in the local press and arrange for the advertisements
in the local press to be scrutinized for any enquiring for or offering homes for children for
reward or adoption. A report on Infant Life Protection appeared as Appendix G in 1931.
Table No. 53. Foster Mothers.
| Number of Foster Mothers at 2nd January, 1932 | 139 |
| „ „ „ at 31st December, 1932 | 123 |
| Number of Licences granted by Council, 2nd Jan., 1932 to 31st Dec., 1932 | 47 |
| „ „ refused by Council, 2nd Jan., 1932 to 31st Dec., 1932 | 10 |
| Number of applications to take additional children agreed to by Council | 6 |
| ,, ,, ,, „ „ refused by Council | 3 |
| Number of applications for re-issue of Licence agreed to by Council | 211 |
| „ „ „ „ refused by Council | 2 |
Foster Children.
| Number of Foster Children at 2nd January, 1932 | 200 |
| „ „ „ received 2nd Jan., 1932 to 31st Dec., 1932 | 197† |
| Number entered Willesden with their Foster Mothers | 9 |
| Total | 406 |
| Number given up | 195 |
| ,, reached the age of 7 years ... | 17 |
| „ died | 0 |
| „ legally adopted | 5 |
| „ ceased to be taken for gain or taken over by Public Assistance Committee | 2 |
| „ left Willesden with their Foster Mothers | 18 |
| Total | 237 |
| Number of Foster Children at 31st December, 1932— | |
| (a) Under 5 years of age | 142 |
| (b) Between 5 and 7 years of age | 27 |
| Total | 169 |
* Of these 21 cases 14 were re-issued in respect of new premises.
† The actual number of new individual Foster Children who came under observation, was 152.