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
Kingston upon Thames 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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32
THE WELFARE AND PREVENTION OF BREAK-UP OF FAMILIES
During the year 24 case conferences were held. A coordinating
conference was held in July to review the cases on the
register. This was followed by a discussion on case conference
procedure. It was agreed that for a trial period of one year
quarterly reports on cases opened and closed should be circulated
via the medical officer of health as co-ordinator, indicating the
principal person involved with the cases still active. It was
also agreed that an annual meeting should be held to enable workers
to discuss problems and become better acquainted.
The position during the year was:
| Date | Number of families "At Risk" | Number of children involved |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1.66 | 67 | 235 |
| 31.12.66 | 125 | 458 |
The causes of failure or difficulty may be classified as
follows:
| Cause | No. of families |
|---|---|
| Marital | 33 (26.4%) |
| Material (Housing, Employment, Financial) | 84 (67.2%) |
| Disorders (Physical, Mental, Psychological) | 70 (56%) |
| Care of Home and Children | 31 (24.8%) |
| Desertion | 17 (13.6%) |
| Delinquency | 24 (19.2%) |
| Other Reasons | 7 (5.6%) |
The total percentage is more than 100 as most families
are included under more than one heading.