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 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton]
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CARE OF TEE UNMARRIED MOTHER AND HER CHILD
In making provision for the residential care of the unmarried
mother and her child the Council rely mainly on voluntary organisations.
There is an active Moral Welfare Association in Sutton which runs an 18 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, 1967 was 22 (l8) and the
number recommended for placement elsewhere was 14 (25) • Ten of these cases
accepted the recommendation.
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.
| MOTHER AND BABY HOMES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name and address of Home | Provided by s | ||
| "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 | 61 (69) | 9 (9) | 42 days |
| Post-Natal | 1 (-) | 8 (8) | 42 " |
| Shelter | - (-) | - (-) | |
| Total | 62 (69) | 17 (17) | 84 days |
| Number of Cots 9 | |||
| Number of cases included above for which Authority accepted financial responsibility | 22 (18) | ||
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS
Adults and children recommended on medical grounds for recuperative holidays
are sent to convalescent and holiday homes. During the year one child under the
age of five years, 32(21) school children and 42 (33) adults were sent for
recuperative holidays. Patients, excluding school children and those receiving social
security benefit are assessed to pay a contribution towards the cost of their
maintenance.
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