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 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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DENTAL SERVICES
The Chief Dental Officer and Principal School Dental Officer reports as follows:
School dental service
Table (i)—
| 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35½* | 36½* | 36½* | 33½* | 32½* | |
| (ii) part-time | 94 | 84 | 72 | 68 | 65 |
| Total | 129½ | 120½ | 108½ | 101½ | 97½ |
| Full-time equivalent | |||||
| (i) School service | 64.4 | 64.6 | 60.9 | 58.9 | 56.4 |
| (ii) M & cw service | 6.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Total | 70.4 | 69.5 | 65.7 | 63.7 | 61 |
| Establishment (temporary) | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 |
| School service | |||||
| (i) by full-time dental officers | 364 | 373 | 361 | 338 | 326 |
| (ii) by part-time dental officers | 355½ | 337½ | 308½ | 300½ | 292½ |
| Total | 719½ | 710½ | 669½ | 638½ | 618½ |
| M & CW service | |||||
| (i) by full-time dental officers | 29 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 30 |
| (ii) by part-time dental officers | 37½ | 22½ | 20½ | 18½ | 19½ |
| Total | 66½ | 53½ | 52½ | 52½ | 49½ |
| Grand Total | 786 | 764 | 722 | 691 | 668 |
* '½' full-time officer accounted for by appointment of half-time Assistant Chief Dental Officer.
The statistics of dental activity during 1963 reveal that the general shrinkage observed
in immediately preceding years continues. Organisation continued for a further year to be
based on the demand for or acceptance of treatment, rather than on the need for treatment
on a wider scale as revealed by the 65 per cent. of pupils found—on inspection of approximately
50 per cent. of the school population—to be dentally unfit (see table (ii)).
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