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
Erith 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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11
This increase will be appreciated better perhaps when
these figures are expressed as percentages, in other words,
attendances at the Clinic have gone up by 38 per cent. and the
actual number of children who attended has increased by 20
per cent. The average number of children attending, per
session, has gone up by an approximate average of 14.
One result of this increased attendance has been to throw
a great deal of extra work on the staff, and this has fallen
particularly on the Clerk to the School Medical Service.
Set out below is a table giving the number of children examined, together with the total attendances, at the various clinics:—
| 1937 | 1936 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children | Attendances | Children | Attendances | |
| Minor Ailments Clinic | 1614 | 10739 | 1392 | 9086 |
| Dental Clinic | 1116 | 1759 | 1331 | 1867 |
| Ophthalmic Clinic | 309 | 776 | 463 | 1156 |
| Special Examinations | 3430 | 6368 | 2792 | 5321 |
| Operations for Tonsils and Adenoids | 105 | – | 57 | – |
| Orthopaedic Clinic | 37 | 53 | – | – |
| 6611 | 19695 | 6035 | 17430 | |
Infectious Diseases.
As mentioned last year, the scheme adopted for detecting
outbreaks of infectious diseases is fully described on page 11
of the report to the Committee for the year 1932.
During 1937, 54 swabs were examined for Diphtheria, 9
of these proving positive.
Open Air Schools.
There is no open-air school provided by this Authority,
but as will be seen from Table III a number of delicate
children attend certified day schools and residential open air
schools maintained by other Education Authorities, this
Authority being responsible for the fees and in most cases the
parents contribute towards the cost.