London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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East Ham 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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22
New patients:— 1948 1947
Syphilis 20 19
Soft Chancre 1 2
Gonorrhoea 40 40
Not Venereal 144 168
Totals 205 229
Total attendances 2,756 2,411
Aldersbrook Homes and Scattered Homes.
Dr. J. S. Coleman's report is submitted herewith:—
After many years beneficent administration by the Ministry of
Health these Homes now come under the aegis of the Home Office.
No marked changes can at once be expected, but the basic policy
to be adopted following the lines of the Curtis Report will be the
break up of large institutional groups of children and their
substitution by small home units under the care of selected women
(mother surrogates), or married couples (parent surrogates) in
order to give the children an upbringing in an environment
approximating as near as possible to conditions in the normal
happy home.
The direct responsibility for the care of the children now falls
to the Children's Committee, and is no longer a function of the
Welfare Services. The Children's Officer, newly-appointed by the
Council, interprets the new legislation in regard to the nurture and
welfare of deprived children and others admitted to the Homes.
The Superintendent and Matron continue in their combined
function in the detailed day to day administration, and play no
small part in the happiness and well-being of the children in every
age group.
The medical supervision and treatment is ably encompassed
by Dr. Curnock assisted by Dr. Foley, and I have carried out the
usual annual medical inspection and three-monthly report to the
Children's Committee. In general, the health of the children and
staff has been well maintained, in spite of small seasonal epidemics