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 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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28
Convalescent Treatment
24 children received a convalescent holiday on the recommendation of
the school medical officer. These arrangements are not intended to provide
annual holidays for children whose parents are unable to provide them;
Details of the diagnosis and periods of stay are shown in the accompanying table.
| Diagnosis | No. of Children | Period of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Home Conditions | 4 | |
| Emotional Deprivation | 2 | 2 weeks |
| Social Deprivation | 3 | 2 weeks |
| Emotional stress at home | 3 | 2 weeks |
| Maladjusted | 2 | (1-8 days |
| (1-2 weeks | ||
| Cerebral Palsy | 2 weeks | |
| Epilepsy | 5 | (3-10 days |
| (2-2 weeks | ||
| Eczema | 2 weeks | |
| General Debility | 3 | 2 weeks |
| 24 |
The following numbers of children were examined by the medical officers during 1970 as to their fitness to undertake the part-time employment indicated:—
| 1970 | 1969 | 1968 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery of Goods for Shopkeepers | 11 | 7 | 10 |
| Delivery of Newspapers | 166 | 463 | 176 |
| Delivery of Milk | Nil | 4 | 6 |
| Shop Assistants | 85 | 62 | 106 |
| Others | 38 | 14 | - |
| 300 | 550 | 298 |
Provision of Milk and Meals
During 1970 milk was supplied free of charge to all maintained primary
schools and approximately 29,000 primary children in these schools received
one third of a pint each per day. This was equal to 92% of children
attending primary schools.
All milk supplied is pasteurised, and the sources of supply are subject
to the approval and constant supervision of the Medical Officer of Health.
The number of meals supplied to children daily during 1970 was approximately
32,550.