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

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East Ham 1961

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

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20
This is very gratifying, in view of the repeated assertions in the public press of a nation wide
increase in venereal disease, variously attributable to 'teenage' immorality, influx of coloured populations,
decay of family life, development of resistant forms of organisms to known antibiotics and lack of sex
education among adolescents.
In fact no increase of venereal diseases in ascertainable in our borough. Quite the contrary,
our statistics show a substantial decline, which trend we hope, fervently, may be maintained.

CHILDREN'S ACT - NURSERY AND SCATTERED HOMES

The statistics for the two years are appended:-

19601961
1. Average number in nursery and homes throughout the year50.540
2. No. chargeable to East Ham on 1st January5149
3. No. chargeable to East Ham on 31st December4937
4. Average weekly admissions2.42.4
5. Average weekly discharges2.52.6

The medical officers of the Public Health Department continue to give a comprehensive
medical service to the children in the residential nursery at Blading Crescent and the scattered homes in
Woodford, East Ham and Ilford. A rota of medical duties is prepared to cover working days, night calls
and weekends.
The appended figures show the effect of the Council's policy of 'boarding out' children in care,
rather than accommodating them in Homes or large Nurseries.
Few will deny the modem concept that, for a child, a home with surrogate parents, is to be
preferred to an institution of any kind, however well run.

The Children's Committee and the Children's Officer are So be congratulated on the vigorous way in which they pursue this most desirable method of placement of their charges.

YearAverage No. of children in homes throughout the year
1952353
1953324
1954203
1955149
1956106
195791
195878
195960.6
196050.5
196140