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
Ilford 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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Dental X-ray facilities, available at the Clinic, were used when
required, often saving the patient pain and inconvenience by a much
quicker diagnosis.
Dentures were provided for expectant and nursing mothers when considered
necessary. These were made at a local dental laboratory under an
arrangement that has been in operation many years. The work has been
very satisfactory."
The number of cases treated at the clinic during 1954 is as follows:—
| Children under 5 | 147 | 145 | 152 | 139 |
The forms of dental treatment provided were:—
| Extractions | Anaesthetics | Fillings | Scaling or Scaling and Gum treatment | Silver Nitrate treatment | Dressings | Radiographs | Dentures Provided, repaired and remade | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | General | |||||||||
| Complete | Partial | |||||||||
| Expectant and nursing mothers | 721 | 62 | 148 | 389 | 78 | - | 195 | 19 | 60 | 46 |
| Children under 5 | 370 | — | 120 | 155 | — | — | 101 | — | — | — |
In addition there were 530 prophylactic treatments and other operations
carried out in the case of expectant and nursing mothers.
The total number of sessions held for expectant and nursing mothers
and children under five years of age was 138½.
Distribution of National Welfare Foods.
Owing to the closure of the local Food Offices, the distribution of
national welfare foods (National Dried Milk, orange juice, cod liver oil
and vitamin tablets) to beneficiaries became the responsibility of the local
health authorities under the National Health Service and this transfer
became effective on the 28th June, 1954. The take-over was accomplished
smoothly and the majority of the distribution centres in Ilford were
unaltered, the County Council becoming responsible for the renting of the
premises and for the employment of the necessary paid staff.
The arrangements adopted in the first instance were regarded as
temporary, to allow for such adjustments as proved necessary from our
experience in operating the scheme, but a permanent scheme was finally
adopted by the County Council in May, 1955.