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
Kensington and Chelsea 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
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A child exhibiting hitherto unnoticed physical or mental abnormalities may be
specially examined at the request of teachers, parents or other interested parties at any time
during school life. Defects discovered at routine medical inspection may also result in special
medical examinations.
During the year children thought to be in need of education in special schools were
referred from various sources and a total of 48 (47) statutory examinations were carried
out. Referrals included 24 (32) for the statutory E.S.N, examination which resulted in 14
(19) recommendations for education at schools for the educationally subnormal. The
remainder included 12 (15) recommendations for open air schools.
Special examinations included, among others, 112 (147) secondary school pupils
seeking employment and 826 (758) wishing to go on school journeys.
HANDICAPPED PUPILS
A total of 203 (206) children requiring special educational treatment attended day schools in other boroughs and 105 (89) were placed in boarding schools. Included in these numbers were:—
| Physically handicapped children— In attendance at day schools | 25 (26) |
| In attendance at boarding schools | 3 (5) |
| Children attending ordinary schools and suffering from— Epilepsy | 73 (72) |
| Orthopaedic and postural defects | 39 (42) |
| Rheumatism | 15 (17) |
| Asthma | 218 (228) |
| Eye diseases other than refractions and squints | 17 (14) |
| Cerebral and Spastic cases | 18 (16) |
The number of maladjusted children referred to the Problem Case Conference was
108 (112). Of this number, 60 (80) were referred to Child Guidance Clinics. There were 2
tutorial classes for maladjusted children and 5 (11) children were recommended for them
from Case Conferences.
CLINICS
Vision
The total attendances numbered 1,741 (1,880) at 162 (149) sessions held during the
year.
New cases attending during the year numbered 702 (790).
Partially sighted children educated in special schools numbered 7 (8).
Hearing
Audiometry
During the year 3,305 (3,656) children in ordinary schools were given the "Sweep"
test by the nursing sisters.