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
Harrow 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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63
Up to this year, only those within the limits of the Council's
financial scale could obtain these forms of treatment under the
provisions made by the Council, the patients' contributions being
assessed according to their means. Early in the year this policy
was amended, so as to enable those who wished to obtain treatment
in this way to do so subject to their contributing an amount equal
to the cost price to the Council for the treatment. No upper
income limit was established outside of which treatment could not
be obtained. Consideration might have to be given to this question.
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.
The same arrangements continued in force with regard to the
supervision of foster-children, each home being visited every month.
The following table summarises the information with regard to foster-children and foster-parents in the district:—
| Number of persons on the register who were receiving infants for reward at the beginning of the year | 89 | |
| Number of persons registered during the year | 69 | |
| Number of persons removed from the register during the year (either by reason of removal from the district; no longer undertaking the care of the child, etc.) | 14 | |
| Number of persons on the register who were receiving children for reward at the end of the year | 99 | |
| Number of children on the register at the beginning of the year | 155 | |
| Number of children received during the year | 246 | |
| Number of children removed from the register during the year | 234 | |
| Removed to care of parents | 121 | |
| Removed to care of another foster-mother | 45 | |
| Legally adopted by foster-parent | 6 | |
| Removed to charitable organisation, etc. | 31 | |
| Removal to hospital | 23 | |
| Of this number seven died. | ||
| Foster parent left the district taking the child with her | - | |
| Child attained the age of nine years | 5 | |
| Died | 3 | |
Number of children on the register at the end of the year 167
Most of the foster-mothers in this district are registered for
the care of one child only though some have up to four, and there
are two children's homes suitably staffed which are registered for
the reception of 22 and 20 children. Monthly visits are made by
the health visitors to all homes.
One boarding school which occasionally had children under
nine years of age was in accordance with Section 219 (1) (b) of the
Public Health Act, 1936, exempted from these provisions of the
Act.