Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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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:-
1960 | 1961 | |
---|---|---|
1. Average number in nursery and homes throughout the year | 50.5 | 40 |
2. No. chargeable to East Ham on 1st January | 51 | 49 |
3. No. chargeable to East Ham on 31st December | 49 | 37 |
4. Average weekly admissions | 2.4 | 2.4 |
5. Average weekly discharges | 2.5 | 2.6 |
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.
Year | Average No. of children in homes throughout the year |
---|---|
1952 | 353 |
1953 | 324 |
1954 | 203 |
1955 | 149 |
1956 | 106 |
1957 | 91 |
1958 | 78 |
1959 | 60.6 |
1960 | 50.5 |
1961 | 40 |