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WOLFSON CENTRE
A senior medical officer of the Department continued to attend the Wolfson Centre on Thursday
afternoons when Islington children were being assessed and when some specific language assessments were
carried out.
TRANSPORT OF CHILDREN TO ORDINARY SCHOOLS
If a child suffered an accident or illness which resulted in a temporary disability which prevented him
or her travelling to school in the normal way, the school medical officer was sometimes asked to decide
whether special transport should be provided. Careful enquiries were made to ensure that the transport was
justified and that the child would be able to work satisfactorily when he eventually reached school. A child
with a leg plaster, for example, might have great difficulty in negotiating several flights of stairs in order to
attend various classes during the course of the day. School medical officers recommended that special
transport should be provided for a number of such children.
HOME TUITION
10 (5) children who were unable to get to school even if transport were provided and would be
absent for a considerable time were recommended for home tuition.
SCHOOL MILK
Prior to the discontinuation of free milk to junior schools, school nurses spent a considerable amount
of time compiling lists for medical examinations of children who it was considered would still need extra
milk on medical grounds. All children so recommended were, in fact, deemed to be eligible.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL SCHOOL DENTAL OFFICER AND CHIEF DENTAL OFFICER
In writing this report on the School Dental Service, run on behalf of the Inner London Education
Authority in conjunction with the Borough, it is pleasing to be able to say once again that the high degree
of co-operation with ancillary staff and the Education Service has continued.
It is a statutory requirement that the school population should be dentally inspected and a great deal
of effort is needed to this end. During 1971, we were able to examine over 90% of the school population
which, bearing in mind the restrictions of school holidays and the variety of school activities, is a high proportion.
On the treatment side a varying picture is presented. No two years are exactly alike because illness
and absence of children takes its toll of those invited to attend for treatment and the needs of the patients
vary considerably.
The number of fillings in permanent teeth declined during the year but the number in temporary
teeth rose.
Extractions of permanent and temporary teeth under general anaesthetic declined, possibly due to
the introduction of blood testing for evidence of sickle cell anaemia. This would have resulted in some
patients not co-operating in the blood testing with a resultant decline in the number presenting themselves
for extraction under general anaesthetic.
The orthodontic service continued to produce work of a high standard, but the volume of work has been
affected by the failure of many children to complete the course. Steps will be taken during 1972 to ensure
that only those really serious about having orthodontic treatment are considered.
Of course, the highlight of 1971 was the opening of the new Health Centre at River Place, and it is
hoped that this will have a considerable impact on the dental service; the indications are that this will be so.
Some photographs of one of the surgeries are to be seen on page 99.
Dental health education, covered in detail in the section of the Director of Public Health's report
dealing with health education generally, continued to be a feature of the service during the year.
The Maternal and Child Health Dental Service has proceeded along similar lines to the previous year.
A session which has been allocated to this at River Place is proving to be quite successful.
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