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In such cases, arrangements are in force whereby the clinic medical officer first
contacts the general practitioner to seek his agreement and, if necessary, to discuss a
particular case. A friendly understanding is reached between the clinic medical officer
and the individual doctors in the neighbouring area on the procedure to be adopted for
reference and consultation in these cases.
This arrangement was arrived at on the recommendation of the Medical Liaison
Committee which is referred to on page 28 and was subsequently approved by the Local
Medical Committee.
Liaison with Children's Department.
Close and friendly co-operation in the care of deprived children has been established
with the Children's Officer and his staff. The special Infant Life Protection visits
are made by the Boarding-Out Officers, and in addition all children under 5 are visited by
the Health Visitor.
Medical examinations of children placed for adoption by the local authority are
carried out by medical officers of the Health Department, and the senior medical and
nursing staff advise the Children's Officer of the suitability, or otherwise, of prospective
adopters, their homes and their medical reports. The medical examinations of children
boarded out in West Ham are also carried out by the Department's medical officers and any
matters requiring attention are discussed with the Children's Officer. Similarly, children
who are to be admitted to the family homes, are examined prior to admission, and all these
homes are visited at regular intervals by a medical officer who examines the children,
Inspects the home and discusses with the Children's Officer matters relating to the health
and welfare of the children.
Following the receipt of Joint circular 157/50 (Home Office), 78/5O {Ministry of
Health), 225/5O (Ministry of Education), relating to children neglected or ill-treated in
their own homes, the Children's Officer was nominated by the Cornell as the Co-ordinating
Officer for the various endeavours, both municipal and voluntary, to help these cases. At
the request of interested departments ad hoc meetings have been called to consider certain
families. The Medical Officer of Health has taken the chair at these meetings which have
been attended, as the occasion requires, by officers of the departments concerned, as well
as by the Paediatrician, Psychiatrist, the Probation Officer and representatives of such
bodies as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the National
Assistance Board and the Ministry of Pensions.
Though it has often been difficult to provide a practical solution to the problems
presented, the interchange of information and of points of view has been very helpful and
educative. It has certainly prevented overlapping and unnecessary duplication of visits.