London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Haringey 1968

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]

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If this special role of the Child Guidance team is appreciated by everybody who considers
referring a child we would not need to face the criticism implied by the Seebohm Report on "Local
Authority and Allied Personnel Social Services" (1968) which has the following observation to make;
"Guidance without the means of acting upon it is of little value. The evidence we have received
about child guidance has convinced us that it is at present falling far short of meeting known needs
for diagnosis and treatment, first because it is not able to help large numbers of children needing
help, and second, because by operation of waiting lists, help is often given too late." Like most
psychiatric services. Child Guidance is involved by public and authorities in cases where their
competence is only marginal with the result that the referring bodies are disappointed with the
results, while the waiting list for those cases where it could really make a very useful contribution
grows unduly long. The recommendation of the Summerfield Report on "Psychologists in Education
Services" (1968) that "access to child guidance and school psychological services should be by open
referral" has always been implemented.
Our close co-operation with the School Health Service explains why most of our clients are of
compulsory school age, but we naturally also cater for pre-school children, whose emotional
maladjustment, if neglected, can have far-reaching unfortunate results for much later personality
development; and adolescents who, as the recent report of the London Boroughs Association of the
Working Party on the Provisions for Seriously Disturbed Adolescents, under the chairmanship of Dr.
F.R. Dennison. has pointed out. suffer from a lack of facilities for the treatment of maladjustment,
both in the hospital and community mental health services."
Tuberculosis
Prevention of tuberculosis by B.C.G. vaccination
B.C.G. vaccination is offered to all school children over 13 years of age. No further education
students took advantage of the opportunity to have B.C.G. vaccination during the year.

The following table gives details of B.C.G. vaccinations carried out by the Council during 1968:-

School Children
Number%
Parents approached3,296
Parents accepted2,81085.3
Number skin tested2,781
Number found positive28710.3
Number found negative2,35884.8
Number failed to attend for Mantoux reading1364.9
Number vaccinated (% of those approached)2,28969.4

Cases of Tuberculosis occurring in teachers or pupils
During 1968 investigations were carried out on the advice of the Chest Physician at four schools
where a case of tuberculosis had occurred amongst the staff or pupils. The results were as follows:-
School 1 - 140 children were "Heaf" tested, of whom 20 were referred to the Chest CIinic for
further investigation.
School 2-21 children were Mantoux tested - all were negative. 10 teachers were X-rayed
all were clear.
School 3 — 70 children were "Heaf" tested, of whom 5 were referred to the Chest Clinic for
further investigation.
School 4 — 106 children and 23 staff were mass X-rayed - all were clear
No additional cases were discovered at any of the schools as a result of the epidemiological
investigations.
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