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
Croydon 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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Summary of school children inspected and treated during the year:—
| Patients examined | 23,571 | Patients treated | 8,138 |
| Attendances | 13,167 | Fillings | 4,482 |
| Extractions | 13,489 | "Gas" cases | 2,606 |
| Other operations | 1,518 | Locals | 1,683 |
| Sessions held :— | |||
| Inspection | 150 | Treatment | 1,086 |
| Administration | 28 | Total sessions | 1,264 |
In addition, 151 sessions were occupied in other than school
work. £386 15s. 0d. was received from patients for treatment,
and £'10 l1s. 8d. voluntary box contributions. The charge for
treatment under all the dental schemes is 6d. per attendance and
1s. 6d. if "gas" is administered. Cases of real necessity are
treated free.
Inspection: 150 sessions were devoted to school inspection,
this being practically the same as 1930.
The age groups dealt with were 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
years for re-inspection, 5 and 6-year-old entrants, and the whole
of the children attending Central Schools.
The toal number of children examined was 23,571. of whom
15,028 were found to be in need of treatment, i.e., 65%.
The following Table indicates the steadv improvement in tne state of the teeth since 1924. There is an increase in the number of children referred for treatment, but that is because a littlemore time has been spent during the inspections so that the small "pin-hole" cavities should not be overlooked.
| Year. | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1926 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of Children Referred for Treatment | 82 | 75 | 68 | 61 | 61 | 63 | 63 | 65 |