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
London County Council 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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42
The Putney centre was started in May, 1930, and at present only monthly
sessions are held. From the number of cases attending, the opening of the centre
would appear to be justified, but at present there seems no need for more frequent
sessions.
On the whole parents have shown themselves anxious to avail themselves of the
opportunity of having their children examined at the centres, as shown by the fact
that at Elizabeth Bullock and Putney 77 per cent, of the invitations issued to new
patients have been accepted. Of those cases who were asked to keep under the
general supervision of the centre, only 13 have failed to do so at Downham, 22 at
Wandsworth and one at Putney.
The large majority of the new cases has been referred by the school medical
service; only a small number has been referred by private practitioners.
Table 4 shows the arrangements which have been made for institutional treatment for the children attending.
| Downham | Elizabeth Bullock. | Putney. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carshalton and Brentwood | 18 | 23 | 4 | 45 |
| I.C.A.A. Heart homes | 3 | 5 | — | 8 |
| I.C.A. A. Ordinary convalescent homes | 12 | 9 | 3 | 24 |
| Other convalescent homes | — | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Residential open-air schools | 6 | 7 | 1 | 14 |
| Other institutions (hospitals, etc.) | 10 | 9 | 1 | 20 |
| Total | 49 | 55 | 11 | 115 |
The increased number of available beds at Carshalton and Brentwood has proved
a tremendous boon and the gratifying results obtained from sending the children to
these institutions leads to the hope that still further accommodation will be provided
in the future.
The help of the Invalid Children's Aid Association has again proved invaluable,
especially in the case of debilitated children without active rheumatism or carditis.
Table 5 shows the arrangements which have been made for the children with regard to school attendance.
| Classification. | (a) Downham Centre. | (b) Elizabeth Bullock Centre. | (c) Putney Centre. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases with carditis. | Cases of chorea & rheumatism, but no carditis. | Doubtful rheumatics. | Non- rheumatics | Cases with carditis. | Cases of chorea & rheumatism, but no carditis. | Doubtful rheumatics. | Non-rheumatics | Cases with carditis. | Cases of chorea & rheumatism, but no carditis. | Doubtful rheumatics. | Non-rheumatics | |
| Attending secondary and central schools | 7 | 2 | 6 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| Attending elementary schools without restrictions | - | 14 | 72 | 40 | - | 27 | 64 | 54 | - | 4 | 16 | 8 |
| Attending elementary schools with restrictions | 41 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 29 | 20 | 8 | - | 7 | 4 | 4 | - |
| Attending physically defective schools | 16 (6*) | - | - | 1 | 13 (7*) | 2(1*) | - | - | 4(2*) | - | - | - |
| Attending open-air schools | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | - | — | 1 | - | — | — | - |
| Attending mentally defective schools | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Left school and now at work | 2 | 1 | 6 | - | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |
| Absent from school practically throughout | 7 | 6 | 9 | — | 14 | 4 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | - |
| Totals | 73 (6) | 50 | 104 | 46 | 59(7) | 56(1) | 78 | 61 | 14 (2) | 8 | 21 | 8 |
* Transferred to P.D. schools during the current year.