London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Tower Hamlets 1969

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tower Hamlets, London Borough]

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Notifications were received of 943 children so absent, measles being the reason for the
largest number viz. 245.
ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE IN SCHOOLS
Each school in the Borough is visited annually by public health inspectors for environmental
hygiene inspection and results of their findings are reported to the Medical Adviser of the
Inner London Education Authority.
Visits are also made to schools by public health inspectors in connection with enquiries and
investigations concerning infectious diseases.
MINOR AILMENTS CLINICS
Children suffering from minor ailments may be referred to minor ailments clinics where they
are seen by a nurse and/or doctor and the appropriate treatment given. There are 8 such clinics
situated in school treatment centres in the borough Use of these clinics is gradually declining,
attendances this year totalled 16,872 compared with 20, 967 last year.
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION RECORDS OF SCHOOLCHILDREN
The percentage of school-children on school rolls immunised and vaccinated is as follows:-
Diphtheria Tetanus Poliomyelitis Smallpox
82.2 *64.6 80.9 47.8
*Children generally speaking only given opportunity during late 1950's.
B.C.G. VACCINATION
The arrangements continued during the year for vaccinating 13-year old schoolchildren
against tuberculosis using B.C.G. 1,581 children being vaccinated.
PART TIME EMPLOYMENT OF SCHOOLCHILDREN
It is a requirement of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933/Education Aot 1944, where
children wish to take up part-time employment such as delivering newspapers etc., that they be
medically examined to ensure they are fit for the proposed employment. All children examined
for this purpose during the year were found fit for the employment proposed.
DEAF AND PARTIALLY-HEARING CHILDREN
Children under 5 suspected of hearing loss are tested by health visitors at health centres.
School children are normally tested during their first year at school. Where such loss is
confirmed or there is any doubt, the child is referred to an audiology clinic and seen by a
specialist and a teacher of the deaf. Action taken includes referral to hospital for treatment
or for the issue of a hearing-aid, to schools for the deaf or partially-hearing, or remain under
observation where the loss is slight, There are no special schools for this defect in the borough,
children having to go to school either in Hackney, Islington Camden or Wandsworth
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