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
Wanstead and Woodford 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wanstead and Woodford]
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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES 1958
WANSTEAD AND WOODFORD
There are 18 schools in the Borough—13 Primary, 4 Secondary
Modern and one Secondary Grammar—which are maintained by the
Local Education Authority. The number of pupils in attendance
remains about the same, i.e. approximately 7,000.
1. SCHOOL MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Early in the year approval was given by the Forest Divisional
Executive to vary the arrangement for the routine medical inspection
of pupils attending schools in this Borough and other districts. Under
the new arrangements, which commenced in the Autumn term
pupils now have their second routine medical inspection after their
admission to the Secondary School instead of during the last year in
the Primary School and this seems to be working very well. The
obvious advantage of this arrangement is that the Head Teacher and
Class Teachers are able to consult the medical officers about children
who will in the majority of cases, remain in the school for the remainder
of their school life.
The other routine inspections are carried out in the infant school at
the age of 5 years and in the Secondary Schools at 14½ years. Those
who remain at school after the age of fifteen years are examined again
just before they leave school.
During the year, 1,840 pupils were examined at school as follows:-
| No. examined | No. referred for | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) treatment | (b) observation | ||
| 1st age group (5-7 years) | 534 | 41 | 96 |
| 2nd age group (10-11 years) | 144 | 14 | 34 |
| 3rd age group (14-16 years) | 654 | 58 | 71 |
| Other age groups and "Specials" | 136 | 16 | 29 |
| Re-examinations | 372 | - | - |
2. CLEANLINESS SURVEYS
The school nurses visited the Primary and Secondary Modern
Schools and carried out 11,526 inspections of the heads of pupils. 39
children—15 more than in 1957—were found to be suffering from
head infestation. The normal procedure of notifying the parent and
offering advice on how to deal with the condition was followed and
with one exception parents were able to cleanse the child themselves
to the satisfaction of the school nurse. The other child was sent to
the Cleansing Centre at Hackney for treatment.
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