The furore over Madonna’s adoption of a boy from Malawi has at least had one useful effect: it has focused public attention on the vexed issue of adoption and the growing difficulty in matching needs and provision. A difficulty, particularly acute now-adays, is the mistaken belief, both among social workers and families seeking to adopt a child, that there is an upper age limit, and that the middle-aged are ineligible.

As a result, there is now a shortage of adoptive families. At least 6,000 children at any one time fail to find homes and therefore remain in care — which, research has found, is the worst option and significantly sets back a child’s chances in later life.

One adoption society, NCH, is now rethinking its criteria, and is seeking out those over 40 who would be willing to adopt. At a time when the age at which women have their children is rising fast, this makes obvious sense. It will not, however, solve the problem. Far more needs to be done to remove restrictions, speed up procedures and change the way adoptions are decided and implemented — both to help couples who would like to adopt but are frustrated by bureaucracy and to help the unacceptably high number of children who cannot find homes.

Sadly, many of these children are scarred, physically or mentally, or have behavioural difficulties. More children who are born with disability are being kept alive nowadays. But a significant percentage of parents to whom they are born are unwilling or unable to look after them. A disproportionate number of children waiting to be adopted also come from ethnic minorities, and too few couples of their race come forward to help them.

This is one area where change should not be ruled out. It is naturally better that a child grow up able to identify with the outlook and values of his or her ethnic group. It is not, however, axiomatic. Social service workers have become far too rigid in refusing all inter-ethnic adoptions. They also insist on trying to place a child with his or her natural parents. That, again, is sensible as the bonds of biology are strong. But a dogmatic insistence is foolish. Abusive parents, those in jail and drug addicts are unlikely to provide the shelter and love needed. Repeated approaches to these families are right but can take a long time, so that adoption procedures become drawn out, often taking at least two years. The emotional cost is high. And by the time a child reaches 10, especially if a boy, the chances of finding a home are virtually nil.

Adoptions are the responsibility of social services, and procedures vary. Well-publicised examples of absurd prejudice — against smokers or the obese — have tended to create a negative image, though most officials do a good job. But procedures are much too slow, and decisions are sometimes taken at too junior a level. In the 1960s some 35,000 children a year were adopted. With the stigma of single parenthood virtually gone, that number has fallen sharply. All, however, deserve the love and support that adoptive parents can offer.