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
Heston and Isleworth 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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All the municipal midwives have been trained in gas and air analgesia. Now that the supply of the
necessary apparatus has improved and the rule requiring the presence of a second midwife or nurse has
been relaxed, greater use is being made of this facility. In 1946 the midwives administered gas and air
analgesia at 35 confinements. Arrangements continue for our midwives to attend post-certificate lectures
and demonstrations organised jointly by the London, Middlesex and Surrey County Councils.
The cost was borne by the Council and where circumstances warranted it a charge was made.
| Mothers | Children | Mothers | Children | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | — | 6 | 1943 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | 5 | 1944 | — | 1 |
| 1941 | 1 | 3 | 1945 | 1 | 3 |
| 1942 | — | 2 | 1946 | 2 | 4 |
According to the circumstances of the household a charge is made for the services of a home help and the number of families assisted is shown below:—
| Maternity | Other | Maternity | Other | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 54 | — | 1943 | 51 | — |
| 1940 | 63 | — | 1944 | 77 | — |
| 1941 | 54 | — | 1945 | 46 | 43 |
| 1942 | 46 | — | 1946 | 72 | 76 |
Some indication of the results of this effort on behalf of illegitimate children is shown in the following report of final arrangements where contact has been maintained:—
| 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother and child living with father of child | 25 | 11 | 20 |
| Mother and child living with grandparents | 15 | 24 | 25 |
| Mother and child living together | 1 | — | 1 |
| Child placed with foster mother | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Child placed for adoption | 4 | 16 | 6 |
| Child placed in residential nursery | 1 | 1 | — |
| Child in day nursery while mother at work | 1 | — | 1 |
| Mother and child left Borough | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| Child died in hospital | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Child living with other relatives | — | 2 | 3 |
| Child with daily guardian while mother at work | maintained :— | 1 | — |
ADOPTION OF CHILDREN.—The Adoption of Children (Regulation) Act, 1939, which came
into operation on 1st June, 1943, is designed to ensure that, as far as is practicable, the adoption of any
inlant shall be carried out in the manner most beneficial to the child and to prevent the trading in young
children by a third party whose sole object is to make money by this traffic in young lives. Adoption
Societies have to be registered, must not practice for gain, and all their activities are subject to scrutiny.
Under Section 7 of the Act it is the duty of any person (other than the child's parent or guardian), who
participates in the arrangements for the placing of a child for adoption, to notify in writing the welfare
authority of the area in which the child is to be placed. Close contact in regard to adoption is maintained
with the Court officers and every assistance is given to Adoption Societies who request information in
connection with their work. The Health Visitors made 162 visits in 1944, 198 in 1945 and 165 visits in
1946 in connection with the adoption of children.
The numbers of foster children on the register at the end of the year and the number of visits of inspection paid during the year are shown below:—
| No. of children | No. of visits | No. of children | No. of visits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 59 | 421 | 1943 | 67 | 591 |
| 1940 | 53 | 489 | 1944 | 52 | 452 |
| 1941 | 71 | 499 | 1945 | 50 | 585 |
| 1942 | 62 | 475 | 1946 | 49 | 373 |