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
Richmond upon Thames 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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requested it. There has also been the growing practice for women, even in extreme
need, to refuse residential care in homes and hostels. A fair number have cancelled their
arrangements and asked for alternative plans. There has also been the tendency for
girls to leave the hostels after a few days, showing a need for greater flexibility in the
service offered to the unsupported mother.
Many of the more sensitive and intelligent women accept hostel accommodation
reluctantly, and although some settle well, others are critical. For those who leave it
has been possible to make suitable alternative plans with a few families. The arrangements
have worked well showing that the community might solve the problems of an
increasing number of women unable to accept residential help in hostels. In these
instances the women are responsible for their own maintenance to the family.
It is always possible to give some kind of adequate help. This can start in very
early pregnancy and be continued through until the post natal period is over. For the
mother who wishes to keep her child and has no home to which she can go, the service
comes to an abrupt halt. There are very few facilities indeed that can be said to be
satisfactory.
This comment is based on the fact that the urgent need for housing the unsupported
mother has largely been ignored for a very long time. Illegitimate children are
always socially at risk and will be more so until their mothers can be assisted with their
accommodation problems. The deciding factor in many a child's adoption has been
the inability of its mother to find a place to live. Adoption may not be in the best
interests of either, and as yet little is known of the effects of adoption on children in
their later years.
I am indebted to Miss H. Oliver, Social Welfare Worker, for these observations on the care of the unsupported mother and her child.
Total Number of Cases referred in 1965:—
| Jan. — March | April — Dec. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsupported mothers | 27 | 125 | 152 |
| Referred by | |||
| Medical Social Workers | 75 | ||
| Health Visitors | 21 | ||
| Doctors | 32 | ||
| Statutory Social Workers | 4 | ||
| Voluntary Social Workers | 10 | ||
| N.C.U.M.C | 7 | ||
| Citizens' Advice Bureau | 3 152 | ||
The Mothers
Marital Status
Single 137
Married 10
Separated 2
Divorced 3
Education
Sec. Mod. 112
Grammar 29
Convent 6
Technical
College 3
University 2
Domicile
In area 116
Outside area 36
Religion
C. of E. 121
Free Church 7
R.C 22
Moslem 2
Occupation
Doctor 1
Nurses 25
Teachers 3
Geologist 1
Students 14
Hairdressers 16
Factory 27
Office Workers 42
Housemother 1
Domestic Hotel
Workers 17
Petrol Pump
Attendants 3
Civil Servants 2
15