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
Hammersmith 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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The total number of children from Hammersmith schools who went on
recuperative holidays during 1970 was 156, (183).
Vision Clinics
There are three vision clinics in the Borough, at Fulham Treatment Centre,
Bagleys Lane, S.W.6.; at St- Dunstan's Treatment Centre, W.6.; and at Milson
Road Treatment Centre, W.14. The ophthalmologists are officers of the Southwest
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and, by arrangements made through
the I.L.E.A., undertake a total of 9 sessions a week- Referrals to the clinic
arise mainly from school medical inspections, and an optician is in attendant
to deal with precriptions for glasses at the parent's discretion.
The following summarises the work carried out at the Clinics during the year:-
| Number of sessions | 348 | (322) |
| Number of new cases | 939 | (1,085) |
| Total attendances | 3,881 | (3,911) |
| Errors of refraction and squints | 2,534 | (2,473) |
| Other eye defects | - | (2) |
| Spectacles ordered | 731 | (717) |
Weekly orthoptic sessions are also held at the Fulham and St. Dunstan's Treatment Centres and the following work was carried out at the Clinics during the year:-
| Number of sessions | 96 | (89) |
| Number of new cases | 72 | (62) |
| Total attendances | 191 | (189) |
Minor Ailments Centres
Minor ailments of school children are treated at five treatment centres in
the Borough. The following is a statement for the year under report:-
Sessions: Medical Officer 33 (48)
Nursing Sister 1,328 (1,240)
Total attendances 22,444 (23,207)
Defects treated
Athlete's Foot 374 (612)
Verrucae 931 (1,188)
Ringworm-body 7 (3)
Impetigo 43 (40)
Other skin
diseases 478 (475)
Eye diseases 163 (161)
Ear diseases 40(62)
Miscellaneous:
bruises and
similar 2,428 (3,066)
-Special Investigation Clinics
204 (385) new patients attended the five Special Investigation Clinics,total
attendances of 1,674 (2,841) were made and 60 (86) children were discharged.
C.30