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
Wandsworth 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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nical knowledge, stimulate dental health education, and would
make it possible to organise small-scale training programmes
covering the latest materials and techniques.
Dental statistics for the year 1969 are given below:—
| Number of inspection sessions in schools | 256 |
| Number of ordinary treatment sessions | 2,888 |
| General anaesthetic | 25 |
| Orthodontic | 82 |
| Health education | 3 |
| Total | 3,254 |
| Number of first inspections in schools | 32,788 |
| Number of first inspections in clinics | 5,441 |
| Total | 38,229 |
| Percentage requiring treatment | 56.9 |
| Reinspections at clinics or schools | 718 |
| Percentage requiring treatment | 70.1 |
| First visits | 5,536 |
| Subsequent visits | 9,359 |
| Total | 14,895 |
| Courses of treatment completed | 3,900 |
| Fillings done | 15,750 |
| Other operations including crown, inlays, X-rays etc. | 5,409 |
Surveys
Sample survey at an ordinary school. Medical records of 645
boys attending an ordinary secondary school showed a history of
a major operation in 32 cases, in addition to 55 cases in which the
tonsils and adenoids had been removed. Eleven boys had sustained
fractures, spectacles had been prescribed for 65 boys, and
colour blindness recorded in 21 cases. Defects included impaired
hearing (19 boys), asthma (11), obesity (19). enuresis (9), epilepsy (2)
and deviation in posture (21). The survey affords an indication as
to the disabilities which are likely to affect children attending an
ordinary school. It is evident that, in general, the children concerned
are able to take part in normal school activities.
National Child Development Study. Wandsworth health visitors
and school medical officers have co-operated in a detailed investigation
of the medical, social and educational progress of thirtyfour
children aged 11 years. The information has been collated
for the National Child Development Study and the ultimate objective
is to identify the circumstances which affect a child's development
from birth to maturity.