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

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Harrow 1946

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]

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72
treatment. At each clinic a time is set aside on one or more days a week
to which the head teachers can refer children whose pain can be alleviated.

In addition, there is the work done by the dental officer of Northwood who attends to children from Cannon Lane, Grimsdyke, Headstone, Pinner Park, Pinner Wood and Pinner County Schools, a school population of nearly 3,000.

South HarrowElmwood AvenueRoxeth HillMarlboro' HillStanburn School
No. of Sessions: Inspection2327263845
Treatment395416443273445
Total Attendance at Clinics3,4212,2903,4552,2543,016
No. of Fillings: Permanent Teeth2,0002,0031,9711,4052,191
Temporary Teeth1,47262572092189
No. of Extractions1,5761,9151,5073,105756

Ear, Nose and Throat Defects.
Those found at the school inspections or at the school clinics to be
suffering from abnormal states of the ear, nose or throat are referred to
the very excellent Ear, Nose and Throat Department of Redhill County
Hospital. In ordinary circumstances any referred were given an early
appointment and any to be operated on were admitted without undue
delay. The shortage of nursing staff which so seriously affected this
special department of the hospital completely altered the picture. Matters
had come to such a pass that it was pointed out it was useless to refer such
cases to the hospital as there was so little prospect of the patients receiving
treatment. On the other hand, though, it was impossible to make other
arrangements. The London hospitals had their own problems and in
their difficulty they asked if arrangements could not be made for those
children who attended there and were found to need treatment to obtain
it locally. There has, therefore, been no alternative but to continue to
refer all cases thought to need treatment to Redhill Hospital. If they
were not referred, they certainly could not obtain treatment. If
they were referred any easing of the situation might enable some at least
to be treated. Most of the cases referred are those considered to need
operative treatment of tonsils and adenoids, though other types of case
have been referred.
Child Guidance.
The following is a report by Dr. Margaret Saul, the psychiatrist, on
the work of the Harrow Child Guidance Clinic.
The present century has seen the recognition of the fact that not only
are some of the symptoms from which children suffer not due to organic
illness, but also that behaviour difficulties are usually a symptom of
mental ill-health, and that they are frequently amenable to treatment and