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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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Table XIV.
| Complaint. | 1937. | 1936. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases. | Attendances. | Average No. of Attendances, per case. | Cases. | Attendances. | Average No. of Attendances, per case. | |
| Ringworm of Scalp | 6 | 20 | 3.3 | 9 | 15 | 1.7 |
| „ „ Body | 13 | 55 | 4.3 | 32 | 166 | 5.2 |
| Scabies | 72 | 358 | 5.0 | 62 | 267 | 4.3 |
| Impetigo | 203 | 909 | 4.5 | 305 | 1811 | 5.9 |
| Other Skin Diseases | 119 | 394 | 3.3 | 214 | 675 | 3.2 |
| Otorrhoea and other Ear defects | 243 | 881 | 3.6 | 305 | 1394 | 4.6 |
| External Eye Disease | 276 | 1946 | 7.1 | 328 | 2981 | 9.1 |
| Miscellaneous | 1639 | 6479 | 3.9 | 1574 | 6456 | 4.1 |
| 2571 | 11042 | 4.3 | 2829 | 13765 | 4.9 | |
From this Table it is seen that the average number of attendances
per child decreased from 4.9 to 4.3; the total attendances
decreased by 2,723, and the number of individual cases by 258.
Adenoids and Enlarged Tonsils.
During 1937, 124 cases of tonsils only, 16 cases of adenoids
only, and 347 cases of adenoids and enlarged tonsils, a total of 487
cases, were recommended for treatment. In 408 cases the Local
Education Authority was requested to arrange for the operation.
There were 80 sessions at the Croydon General Hospital. The
work is done by a rota of 4 general medical practitioners working
in pairs, as surgeon and ana&sthetist, for periods of three months,
and remunerated by the Education Committee. All other expenses
of the Clinic are also borne by the Committee.
The children were examined at the Throat Clinic the week prior
to the operation.
408 children were operated upon, a decrease of 72 on 1936. All
cases are kept in hospital for at least one night after the operation
unless the parent expressly desires otherwise and is prepared to
take all responsibility. During the year no parent accepted this
responsibility. If needful, children are kept longer. Children
admitted to Mayday Hospital are kept for a minimum of 5 days in
hospital. All children are conveyed home by ambulance. Id all
there were 222 non-attendances.