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 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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taken during the year to ensure the free supply and repair of surgical appliances
and spectacles and the free supply of insulin prescribed at voluntary hospitals for
pupils for whom the Council, as education authority, was responsible.
Authority was also given for the cost of emergency dental treatment by private
practitioners for the relief of pain during the evenings, week-ends, and other times
when clinics are not open, to be borne by the Council.
The important changes in past practice brought about by the operation of the
Education Act, 1944, became operative on 1st April, 1945; and, despite material
alteration of the administrative procedures previously in vogue, were carried out
smoothly.
Government Evacuation Scheme
At the end of 1944 the undermentioned "Special parties" were in the reception areas:—
| Number of parties | Children in residence | Accommodation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential nurseries (0-5 years) | 25 | 705 | 897 |
| „ nursery schools (2-5 years) | 38 | 1,516 | 1,749 |
| „ schools for physically defective and delicate children | 9 | 613 | 679 |
| „ „ for the mentally defective | 7 | 664 | 735 |
| „ „ blind, deaf, diabetic and those with tuberculous histories | 11 | 502 | 577 |
| Total | 90 | 4,000 | 4,637 |
The arrangements made for the medical supervision of these parties were set out
in the report for 1943.
There were also four nurseries in London, but these were used merely as receiving
centres and the children were evacuated from there to nurseries in the reception
areas as soon as possible after admission.
With the end of the European War in May, 1945, it was necessary to prepare
plans for additional nursery accommodation in London in which the children could
remain until they were discharged to the care of their parents or were old enough to
be transferred to nursery schools, and also to prepare for the closing of some of the
establishments in the country. By the end of the year new nurseries were opened at
three of the Council's hospitals and additional nursery accommodation provided at
another, whereby provision was made for 301 more cots.
The residential schools for handicapped children included in the "Special
parties" were used throughout the year under review but it was possible, with the
cessation of hostilities, to reduce their number.
The position in December, 1945, was as follows:—
| Number of parties | Children in residence | Accommodation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential nurseries (0-5 years) | 5 | 141 | 206 |
| „ nursery schools (2-5 years) | 17 | 693 | 883 |
| „ schools for physically handicapped and delicate children | 5 | 345 | 465 |
| „ „ for the educationally sub-normal | 2 | 164 | 235 |
| „ „ for diabetic, etc | 2 | 113 | 146 |
| Total | 31 | 1,456 | 1,935 |
Medical inspection
Under the Education Act, 1944, the junior departments of former elementary
schools became primary schools and the senior departments and former central
schools became secondary schools. The statistics which follow should be read with
due regard to this change.
The number of elementary school children on the rolls of elementary and central
schools in London in December, 1944, was 175,445; by September, 1945, this had