Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
This page requires JavaScript
151
of 3,500 per clinic now advocated, a substantial increase in staff
is necessary to carry out the requisite annual inspection and
treatment.
Moreover, impending developments in connection with the
Education Act, such as the raising of the school leaving age and
the provision for those attending County Colleges, will in time
very greatly increase the number of those requiring to be dealt
with, and recent estimates have assessed possible liabilities as
being in the region of 40,000 children.
To meet this situation, comprehensive plans have been submitted
for a further expansion of the service extending over a
number of years. These measures have now received the general
approval of the Council.
The ensuing Table of Analysis illustrates the calculated year
to year increase in the school population, together with the
requisite increase of staff required.
PRESENT AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS.
Year. | Estimated Increase in School Population. | Total. | Probable Increase in Dental Officers Required. |
---|---|---|---|
1946 | Present Population | 25,680 | 1 (Woodside) |
1947 | Plus 14-15 age group, 1,855 | 27,575 | 1 (Addington) |
1948-9 | Plus 15-16 age group, 1,855 | — | (Lodge (Rd. 2 District Centre) |
Plus Housing Estate 5,260 | 34,690 | ||
1950 and onwards | Plus County Colleges, 7,000 | — | |
Plus Nursery Schools, 800 | 42,490 | 1-2 | |
Total | 5-6 |
Inspections.
The number of children on the register at Primary and
Secondary Schools within the Borough at the close of 1946 was
25,128. Including an additional 552 free-place scholars at nonmaintained
schools this represents a sum total of 25,680 children.
Of these, 22,022 were inspected and 12,046 (54.7 per cent.)
referred for treatment, compared with 15,735 inspected and 9,695
(61.6 per cent.) referred in 1945.
The above decline of 6.9 per cent. in the number requiring
treatment represents a substantial achievement in dealing with
war-time arrears, and when compared with the figure of 76 per
cent. requiring treatment in 1937, illustrates only too clearly the
beneficial effect of more frequent inspection and treatment.