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 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Table (iii)—
| 1952 | 3.86 |
| 1953 | 4.69 |
| 1954 | 5.32 |
| 1955 | 7.39 |
| 1956 | 6.50 |
| 1957 | 6.41 |
| 1958 | 6.34 |
| 1959 | 7.41 |
| 1960 | 7.57 |
| 1961 | 9.10 |
Orthodontics
Reference to orthodontic centres continued, as in former years, to be limited by the
relatively small numbers able to be accepted—about 800 patients—only a fraction of the
discernible malocclusions in a school population of nearly half a million. Table (iv) shows
a slight improvement, however, in 1961 compared with the preceding year.
Table (iv)—
| 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of special orthodontic sessions | 321 | 282 | 229 | 237 | 254 |
| Number accepted at special orthodontic sessions | 108 | 199 | 138 | 152 | 171 |
| Number accepted at routine sessions | 403 | 474 | 371 | 401 | 470 |
| Number referred to hospitals | 158 | 186 | 279 | 154 | 154 |
| Total number of patients accepted or referred | 669 | 859 | 788 | 707 | 795 |
Maternity and child welfare dental service
For another year this service was kept at about 10 per cent. of the total dental services
available. During the year new legislation, the National Health Service Act, 1961, exempted
expectant and nursing mothers from the standard National Health Service charges for
dental appliances. The local health authorities' dental service, under Part III of the Act
of 1946, thereby ceased to be the only 'free' source of treatment for these patients and in
consequence attendances fell. Many mothers also express preference for 'private' treatment.
Staff fell by the equivalent of one full-time dental officer.
Tables (v) and (vi) show the work done during the year.
Table (v)—
| 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of sessions | 3,293 | 3,135 | 2,764 | 2,592 | 2,300 |
| Number of appointments offered | 36,636 | 34,740 | 30,456 | 27,368 | 23,864 |
| Attendances—by appointment | 26,006 | 24,691 | 21,995 | 19,651 | 16,500 |
| —other | 1,717 | 1,539 | 1,122 | 1,060 | 894 |
| Silver nitrate treatment | 5,423 | 5,065 | 4,415 | 5,858 | 5,718 |
| Fillings | 11,310 | 11,491 | 10,031 | 8,716 | 7,399 |
| Extractions | 7,809 | 5,873 | 5,114 | 4,513 | 3,624 |
| Dentures supplied—new full | 508 | 422 | 380 | 351 | 327 |
| —new partial | 820 | 685 | 649 | 468 | 485 |
| Number made dentally fit | 6,010 | 5,014 | 4,784 | 4,165 | 3,255 |