View report page

130
Diabetic children
The Council's diabetic unit is housed in the residential school at Hutton, Essex, and
at the end of 1952, contained 38 pupils. Children suffering from diabetes mellitus, which
cannot be adequately controlled at home, and who are of such intelligence as to profit
by their stay are admitted. The principles of the control of the disease and the importance
of dietary are taught at the unit, and the children are trained to render their own insulin
injections and to guard against the accidents of a diabetic life. They take part in all
school activities, including a fortnight's visit to a holiday camp.
A visiting medical officer and nursing staff with special experience provide the day
to day care and a consultant visits fortnightly and at such other times as are necessary.
The laboratory work to ensure control is undertaken by a technician under the direction
of the consultant.
During the year the Diabetic Association organised a scheme whereby diabetic
children from various parts of the country attended holiday camps at Walton-on-Naze,
Essex, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, and Deal, Kent. A small number of diabetic children
attending ordinary schools in London were sent to these camps and benefited not only
from the holiday itself but also from instruction in the diabetic way of life. The
accommodation at Martello Camp, Walton-on-Naze, was provided by this Council
and the camp was held in conjunction with the Council's diabetic unit.
Children under five years of age
An inspector of the Education Officer's Department continued to visit primary schools
with accommodation available for nursery classes after the needs of the children over five
had been met, and in those cases where she was prepared to approve a nursery class, the
divisional medical officer was consulted, and arrangements were made to introduce
some approximation to nursery school conditions.
At the end of 1952 there were 157 nursery classes with accommodation for approximately
4,710 children aged 3 to 5 years. In addition to a midday meal, these children
had one-third of a pint of milk daily and cod liver oil and other vitamin preparations;
for those who required them medicaments containing iron were also prescribed. Nursery
class children attend during the ordinary school hours of primary schools, but nursery
school children attend from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and have breakfast (when necessary),
dinner and tea, and two-thirds of a pint of milk daily in addition to the other supplements
supplied to the nursery class children.
At the end of the year there were 20 maintained day nursery schools with accommodation
for 1,220 children from 2 to 5 years and five aided day nursery schools with
accommodation for 230 children.
School nurses attended nursery classes and schools daily and each child was examined
every term by a school doctor.
There was a total of 14,436 children under five years of age on the day school rolls,
12,532 being in the Council's schools and 1,904 in voluntary or aided schools.
Research and investigation
A joint committee of the Institute of Child Health (University of London), Society
of Medical Officers of Health and the Population Investigation Committee has been
following the health, growth and development of 6,000 children born in one week in
March, 1946, who are drawn from all social classes and from all parts of Great Britain.
The chief aims are to collect information on accidents, illnesses, growth and development,
to show the effect of environment on the health and growth of young children,
to compare the history of prematurely-born children with those born at term, and to
observe the achievement of children against the background of their ability, health and
opportunities. The Council, in common with other local authorities, has assisted in