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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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69
Remaining under observation—
Number of Foster Children at 31st December, 1938—
(a) Under 5 years of age 156
(b) Between 5 and 9 years of age 94
Total 250
‡ 1 of these was legally adopted by the Foster Parents.
Table No . 62.
The 250 Foster Children under observation at 31st December, 1938, were maintained in the care of Foster Mothers as follows :—
| Maintained by— | |
|---|---|
| Parent or Guardian | 203* |
| Crusade of Rescue, 48, Compton Street, W. | 29 |
| National Adoption Society, 4, Baker Street, W. | 18 |
| Church Army | 0 |
| Received with lump sum | 0 |
| Total | 250 |
*In 58 cases the parent or guardian was living in Willesden at the time the child entered the care of the Foster
Mother.
In 145 of these cases the parent or guardian was not living in Willesden at the time the child entered the care
of the Foster Mother.
Table No . 63.
The following Table shows the length of time each of the 250 Foster Children under observation at 31st December, 1938, had been in the care of their Foster Mothers.
| Under 6 months | 90 |
| Over 6 months, under 1 year | 46 |
| Over 1 year, under 1½ years | 32 |
| Over 1½ years, under 2 years | 23 |
| Over 2 years, under 2½ years | 19 |
| Over 2½ years, under 3 years | 11 |
| Over 3 years, under 3½ years | 8 |
| Over 3½ years, under 4 years | 6 |
| Over 4 years, under 4½ years | 4 |
| Over 4½ years, under 5 years | 3 |
| Over 5 years, under 5½ years | 1 |
| Over 5½ years, under 6 years | 0 |
| Over 6 years, under 6½ years | 0 |
| Over 6½ years, under 7 years | 1 |
| Over 7 years, under 7½ years | 1 |
| Over 7½ years, under 8 years | 4 |
| Over 8 years, under 8½ years | 1 |
| Over 8½ years, under 9 years | 0 |
| Total | 250 |
Of the 443 individual Foster Children under observation during the year 1938, 285 changed
hands during that period. 232* made 1 change, 41 made 2 changes, 10 made 3 changes, 2 made
4 changes. These changes do not include the first reception of the child.
* Of these, 11 were admitted to Hospital returning to same Foster Mother.