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 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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147
The decrease of 0.9 in the percentage of those referred is
interesting, hut this figure has varied considerably during recent
years, and is influenced by the regularity with which inspections
have been received. Some improvement has been suggested
from time to time in the calcification of the enamel of the younger
age groups, but in the main the incidence of caries continues to
be high, and it is doubtful whether the implication suggested by
the above figure can be regarded as permanent.
In addition to those returning from evacuation, nine Departments,
comprising some 2,400 children, owing to lack of time
and staff received no inspection during 1945.
The results obtained from school inspections were as
follows:—Acceptance of Treatment, 70 per cent.; Refused
Treatment, 13.4 per cent.; Forms Not Returned, 16.6 per cent.
Such figures show an all round improvement and are, so far,
the best results obtained.
The following analysis shows the variations that have taken
place in the acceptance rate during recent years :—
| 1945. | 1944. | 1943. | 1939. | 1937. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. referred for— | |||||
| Treatment | 9695 | 8047 | 9041 | 5477 | 13498 |
| Consents | 6789 : 70% | 5335:66.3% | 5642 :62.4% | 3430 : 63% | 7762:57.5% |
| (Total Consents *Including Specials) | (8363 : 74%) | (6320 : 70%) | (6814 : 67%) | (5215 :72%) | (10146:63%) |
| Refusals | 1301 :13.4 % | 1314 : 16.3% | 1519 : 16.8% | 996 : 18% | 3242: 24% |
| Forms Not Returned | 1605 :16.6% | 1398:17.4% | 1880 : 20.8% | 1051 : 19% | 2494 :18.5% |
* Specials.— Those referred by Head Teachers with Emergency Forms
Acceptance Rate.
A rise of 3.7 per cent. is noted in the acceptance rate, the
total now standing at 70 per cent., compared with 66.3 per cent.
last year. Other figures (given above) obtained from inspections,
are correspondingly good and in keeping with the general
improvement noted in recent years.
This upward trend in the acceptance rate places an increased
strain on all personnel concerned, and calls for progressive
expansion within the scheme.