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
Sutton 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton]
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CARE OF THE UNMARRIED MOTHER AND HER CHILD
In making provision for the residential care of the unmarried
mother and her child the Counoil rely mainly on voluntary organisations.
There is an active Moral Welfare Association in Sutton which runs
an l8-bed mother and baby home. The Council makes a grant to the
association and in return receives the services of a moral welfare
social worker and free admission of mothers up to one third of the
total number of beds available.
A number of girls prefer to go to mother and baby homes some
distance from their places of residence and at times the Sutton home
is unable to accept all the Sutton cases. Under these circumstances,
a suitable home is sought elsewhere, the Council being financially
responsible for the girl's maintenance, less any contribution she
may make of her own or from financial help from her parents or the
putative father.
The total number of Sutton girls admitted to the Sutton Mother
and Baby Home from 1st January to 31st December, 1966 was 18 (14) and the
number placed elsewhere was 25 (l7)«
The length of stay at a mother and baby home is normally about
twelve weeks - 6 weeks ante-natal and 6 weeks post-natal.
Before leaving the home mothers are assisted to find accommodation and employment and in making arrangements for the care of their babies.
| Name and addre-ss of Home | Provided by : | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Haven" 2 Camden Road, Sutton | Sutton & District Moral Welfare Association | |||
| Part B | Number of cases admitted during year | Number of beds at end of year | Average duration of stay | |
| Ante-Natal | 69 (48) | '9 (9) | 42 days | |
| Post-Natal | - (2) | 8 (8) | 42 days | |
| Shelter | - (") | - | ||
| Total | 69 (50) | 17 (17) | 84 days | |
| Number of Cots 9 | ||||
| Number of cases included above for which Authority accepted 18 (14) financial responsibility | ||||