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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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Table XIV.
| 1938 | 1937. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaint. | Cases. | Attendances. | Average No. of Attendances. per case. | Cases. | Attendances. | Average No. of Attendances. per case. |
| Ringworm of Scalp | 12 | 339 | 28.2 | 6 | 20 | 3.3 |
| Body | 24 | 130 | 5.4 | 13 | 55 | 4.3 |
| Scabies | 98 | 356 | 3.6 | 72 | 358 | 5.0 |
| Impetigo | 183 | 1237 | 6.8 | 203 | 909 | 4.5 |
| Other Skin Diseases | 82 | 236 | 2.9 | 119 | 394 | 3.3 |
| Otorrhoea and other Ear defects | 328 | 1868 | 5.7 | 243 | 881 | 3.6 |
| External Eye Disease | 260 | 1028 | 4.0 | 276 | 1946 | 7.1 |
| Miscellaneous | 1644 | 8328 | 5.1 | 1639 | 6479 | 3.9 |
| 2631 | 13522 | 5.1 | 2571 | 11042 | 4.3 | |
From this Table it is seen that the average number of attendances
per child increased from 4.3 to 5.1; the total attendances
increased by 2,480, and the number of individual cases by 60.
Adenoids and Enlarged Tonsils.
During 1938, 60 cases of tonsils only, 12 cases of adenoid?
only, and 288 cases of adenoids and enlarged tonsils, a total of 360
cases, were recommended for treatment.
There were 61 sessions at the Croydon General Hospital. The
work is done by a rota of 4 general medical practitioners working
in pairs as surgeon and anaesthetist, 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.
306 children were operated upon, a decrease of 102 on 1937.
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.
In all there were 192 non-attendances.