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
London County Council 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The average roll and average attendance (elementary schools) during the last four years, were as follows :—
| Year | Roll | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Particulars of examinations at school are set out below :— | ||||
| „ „ 11 | ||||
As inspections of all kinds and re-inspections totalled no less than 469,719, it is
clear that, although some duplicate inspections are included, very few indeed of
the children in school escaped coming under the eye of the doctor in some way or
another during the course of the year.
Co-operation
of parents
Parents are invited to be present at all routine inspections, and attended in
78.1 per cent. of the examinations in the three prescribed age groups, compared with
77.3 per cent. in 1937 and 76.9 per cent in 1936. At the inspection of entrants, the
proportion was 90.5 per cent., and in the "leaver" group 40.9 per cent. The
presence of the parent has a very considerable effect, and relieves very greatly the
task of following-up, as it eliminates the necessity for home visiting and correspondence.
Particularly important is the presence of the parent at the entrant examination,
and that this is recognised by the parents themselves is shown by the fact that no
less than 90.5 per cent. of parents attended at this time.
Least satisfactory attendances by parents are at the leaving examinations of
boys, when only 33.1 per cent. were present, although 48.6 per cent. attended in
the case of girls. The intense dislike of boys of this age of being thought to be still
attached to their mothers' apron-strings is well known, and the mothers are, no doubt,
sternly warned off by their adolescent male offspring.
Refusals of parents to submit children for medical inspection are so few in
number as to be almost negligible. During the year 1938, the parents of 38 children
(10 boys, 28 girls), being 3 less than in 1937, refused to allow them to be examined
by one of the Council's assistant medical officers. Two objections were subsequently
withdrawn, and in 3 instances medical record cards were completed by a private
medical practitioner.
Children
referred for
treatment
The number of children in the three prescribed age groups who were found
needing or receiving treatment for defects other than malnutrition, uncleanliness and
dental disease was 20,244, or 15.6 per cent.