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
Croydon 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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Table 2. Attendances of Parents at School Medical Inspections
| 1967 Boys Girls | 1966 Boys Girls | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrants | 83.4% | 87.0% | 88.6% | 84.1% . |
| Leavers | 3.3% | 7.8% | 3.8% | 7.1% |
| Others | 59.0% | 59.8% | 58.1% | 55.9% |
| Total Number of children examined | 8,492 | 8,570 | 8,655 | 8,622 |
| Total Attendance of Parents | 53.6% | 53.2% | ||
Medical inspections in non-maintained schools have continued during
the year in those schools which have requested such facilities. No requests
were received for any extension of these facilities during the year.
A total of 629 children were medically examined at non-maintained schools
in 1967, and detailed findings have been recorded in Appendix C, page 57.
As a result of medical inspections in all schools a total of 7,079
defects were receiving or were thought to require medical treatment, and
this increase compared with the previous year is almost entirely due to an
increased recording of dental defects by the school medical officers. A
further 6,312 defects were referred for further observation by the school
medical officers. A summary of the defects which were found has been recorded
in Table 3. The proportion of defects which were discovered in
every hundred children examined has been recorded in Table 4.
Personal Hygiene
The changes in procedure which were outlined in the 1966 Report
(page 10) and which allow a more selective form of hygiene inspection,
presented no difficulties during the year. Indeed, a greater number of
children were inspected for cleanliness in association with the school
medical procedure than had been possible during separate inspections in
the previous year, and yet the number of children actually found to be infested
showed a welcome decline. The number of children who were found
to be infested at follow-up visits showed a marked reduction (42%) compared
with the previous year, and this reduction is sufficient testimony
to the continued vigilance of the school nurses who deal with this small
but persistent problem.
The exclusion of children from school because of infestation with
nits and vermin has occasionally led to difficulties because of natural
reluctance by the staff to invoke statutory powers. Minor administrative
changes during the year allowing informal exclusion to be linked, where
necessary, with legal enforcement are expected to avoid such difficulties
in the future.