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
Brent 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brent]
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of the area teams to be considered. Likewise, where the Social Services Department has referrals already
known to the Child Guidance Service, or where there is a large psychological content, liaison between the two
departments becomes necessary.
In conclusion, the Child Guidance Service has been most grateful for the support and co-operation
received from Mr. Wyeth, the former Director of Education, and looks forward to continued encouragement
from Miss Rickus, the new Director. Similarly a co-operative relationship has been established with Dr.
Grundy, Director of Health, and we look forward to similar co-operation with his successor, Dr. Hollman.
CHILD GUIDANCE CENTRES Table 1. Referrals
| Number of cases referred to the Centres in 1971 (135 girls, 228 bovs) | 363 | |
| Number of cases brought forward from 1970 waiting list | 128 | |
| 491 | ||
| Number of new cases dealt with by Psychiatrist and team | 280 | |
| Number of cases investigated by Educational Psychologist and P.S.W. or withdrawn before full investigation | 160 | |
| Cases remaining on waiting list at 31.12.71 | 51 | |
| 491 | ||
| Number of cases seen for regular treatment | 292 | |
| Number of cases recommended for residential placement | 26 |
Table 2. Sources of Referrals
| Director of Health and School Medical Officers | (12%) 45 |
| Headteachers and Educational Psychologists | (30%) 108 |
| General Practitioners | (14%) 51 |
| Hospitals | (3%) 12 |
| Probation Officers and Juvenile Courts | (1%) 5 |
| Parents | (21%) 76 |
| Social Services Department | (7%) 26 |
| Others | (11%) 40 |
| 363 |
Table 3. Reasons for Referrals
| 1. | (12%) | ||
| (a) Fears and anxieties | 24 | ||
| (b) Inhibited behaviour | 10 | ||
| (c) Depression | 10 | ||
| (51%) | |||
| (a) At Home | 94 | ||
| (b) At School | 47 | ||
| (c) Predominantly aggressive | 44 | ||
| 3. | (12%) | ||
| (a) Enuresis (wetting) | 12 | ||
| (b) Encopresis (soiling) | 11 | ||
| (c) Involuntary movements | 3 | ||
| (d) Sleep disturbance | 9 | ||
| (e) Speech disorders | 8 | ||
| 4. | (3%) | ||
| Asthma, Eczema, etc. | 10 | ||
| 5. | (18%) | ||
| (a) Stealing | 38 | ||
| (b) Non-attendance at school | 27 | ||
| 6. | (1%) | 1 | |
| 7. | (8%) | ||
| Backwardness and retardation in school work | 15 | ||
| 363 | |||
Table 4. Age Distribution of Referrals
| Under 5 years | 32 | 11 years | 31 |
| 5 years | 28 | 12 years | 35 |
| 6 years | 35 | 13 years | |
| 7 years | 26 | 14 years | 31 |
| 8 years | 35 | 15 years | 15 |
| 9 years | 31 | Over 15 years | 4 |
| 10 years | 31 | 363 |