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
Bromley 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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67
*One child was referred in 1967, two children were previously
included in the severely subnormal group.
**The final diagnosis in all cases made in 1967.
***A11 these are new referrals in 1967.
The Table is of some interest. The right hand side columns
relate to mentally handicapped children, and in spite of the
turnover of "population" amounting to one fifth of the total
(children born in 1961 left the register, the new referrals took their
place), the size of specific groups remain practically identical.
Nearly half of the total increase in numbers is due to a larger
first group (subnormality from various causes) and this undoubtedly
reflects the wider terms of reference adopted by the
hospitals in notifying the child to the Health Department. This
in turn, we feel is due to the enhanced awareness on the part of
the Consultants and their staffs of the relevant L.H.A. service
available.
The number of "self referrals", i.e. the mother approaching
the Medical Officer of Health directly to ask for her child to be
assessed, although marginal, has been on the increase. Clearly,
everybody is taking note of the developing services.
TABLE V CHILDREN BORN AFTER 31.12.1961 REMOVED FROM THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED REGISTER DURING 1967 (Corresponding numbers for 1966 in brackets)
| Left District (3 severely subnormal, 3 subnormal, 2 mongols (with cerebral palsy) | 8 | (14) |
| Found on assessment to have deafness as main handicap | 3 | (4) |
| Admitted to subnormality hospital for long term care (1 mongol, 1 severely subnormal) | 2* | (2) |
| *This severely subnormal child was subsequently removed by parent. | ||
| Found on assessment to be below average | 1 | (5) |
| Died | 1 | (6) |
| Total: | 15 | (31) |
The numbers involved are too small to make valid comparisons,
but it is of note how small is the fraction admitted
to hospitals on long term basis (1 % to 2%).
The reasons are two-fold—on the one hand the parents are
more reluctant than ever to part with their child, and the reluctance
is rationalised by pointing out the shortcomings of subnormality
hospitals. Whilst gearing the community care to