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
Hornsey 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornsey, Borough of]
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Routine Medical Inspection
The following table shows the number of Hornsey children inspected by years of birth and the classification of their physical condition.
| Year of Birth | No. of Pupils Inspected | Condition Satisfactory | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | ||
| 1955 & later | 175 | 172 | 98.3 |
| 1954 | 522 | 510 | 97.7 |
| 1953 | 130 | 130 | 100.0 |
| 1952 | 17 | 16 | 94.1 |
| 1951 | 119 | 118 | 99.2 |
| 1950 | 625 | 623 | 99.7 |
| 1949 | 69 | 69 | 100.0 |
| 1948 | 150 | 150 | 100.0 |
| 1947 | 679 | 679 | 100.0 |
| 1946 | 330 | 330 | 100.0 |
| 1945 | 190 | 188 | 99.0 |
| 1944 & earlier | 1010 | 1010 | 100.0 |
| Total | 4016 | 3995 | 99.48 |
As an experiment permitted under the School Health Service and Handicapped
Pupils Regulations to dispense with routine medical inspections for
specified age groups and to substitute periodic visits to schools to see selected
cases, a pilot survey was carried out at one school among the eight to nine year
olds, totalling 111 children.
Of these, 40 were chosen by the teachers and head teachers for a special
medical inspection. When the children were seen, however, it was found that
almost all of them were either known to the School Health Service as being under
treatment at for example the Chest Clinic or Children's Hospital, etc. Nevertheless
it was obvious that the teachers wished to have advice concerning these
children and this advice was given.
During the following term the 71 "healthy" children were seen at periodic
medical inspections to serve as controls. Of these, 50 were regarded as fit
and not in need of advice or treatment. Of the remaining 21, it is considered
that nine had defects, e.g. of vision and hearing, which would have been picked
up by the school nurse or audiometrician. (In fact the two children with hearing
defect had been so picked up and were under investigation). Of the remaining
12 children, six were referred for treatment and six for observation.
As a result of this experiment the medical officer concerned is of the
opinion that this is not a substitute for periodic medical inspections.
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