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
Willesden 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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68
THE SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
for the
Year ending 31st December, 1935,
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
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 the Children & Young Persons Acts, 1908-1933, 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 anyone enquiring for or offering
homes for children for reward or adoption. A report on Infant Life Protection appeared as
Appendix G in 1931.
The provisions of the Children & Young Persons Act, 1932, relating to Infant Life Protection
came into operation on January 1st, 1933. These provisions amend Part 1 of the Children Act,
1908. The principal amendments are as set out in the 1933 Annual Health Report—see page 61.
Two foster children died during the year. The cause of death in one case was spasmodic
croup and cardiac failure and in the other asphyxia due to convulsions. No inquests were held in
connection with deaths of foster children in 1935.
Table No. 54. Foster Mothers.
| Number of Foster Mothers at 31st December, 1934 | 103 |
| Number of Foster Mothers at 31st December, 1935 | 115 |
| Number of Licences granted by Council in 1935 | 44 |
| „ „ refused by Council in 1935 | 5 |
| Number of applications to take additional children agreed to by Council | 6 |
| „ „ „ „ „ refused by Council | 2 |
| Number of applications for re-issue of Licence agreed to by Council | 141 |
| „ „ „ „ „ refused by Council | 1 |
| Foster Children. | |
| Number of Foster Children at 31st December, 1934 | 173 |
| Number of Foster Children received during 1935 | 241 |
| Number entered Willesden with their Foster Mothers | 5 |
| Total | 419 † |
* Of these 14 cases 9 were re-issued in respect of new premises and 2 were re-issued in respect of
amendments of the Children Act, 1908, as contained in the Children and Young Persons Act, 1932.
† The actual number of new individual Foster Children who came under observation was 218.