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 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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152
Added to the above, ante-natal care for mothers and improved
nutrition and hygiene for infants, are already beginning to play
their part in lessening the incidence of caries so prevalent in
former years. As mentioned in the Maternity and Child Welfare
Report, recent investigations have disclosed a noticeable improvement
in calcification in the mouths of those entering school.
Should, as it is hoped, this become manifest in the older age
groups, even more far reaching results may accrue.
Owing to lack of time seven departments, comprising
approximately 1,400 children, received no routine inspection
during the year.
The figures obtained from school inspections were as
follows:—
Acceptance of Treatment 70.%
Refused Treatment 12.8%
Forms Not Returned 17.2%
Allowing for minor variations in the last two categories,
these results will be seen to be almost identical with those of
1945.
The following analysis demonstrates the gradual rise in the acceptance rate during recent years:—
RESULTS OF SCHOOL INSPECTIONS.
| 1946. | 1945. | 1944. | 1943. | 1937. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. referred for— | |||||
| Treatment | 12046 | 9695 | 8047 | 9041 | 13498 |
| Consents | 8433:70% | 6789:70.0% | 5335:66.3% | 5642:62.4% | 7762:57.5:, |
| (Total Consents Including Specials)* | (13810:74%) | (8363: 74.%) | (6320:70%) | (6814:67%) | (10146:63%) |
| Refusals | 1542:12.8% | 1301:13.4% | 1314:16.3 % | 1519:16.8% | 3242 : 24% |
| Forms Not Returned | 2071:17.2% | 1605:16.6% | 1398:17.4 % | 1880:20.8% | 2494:18.5% |
| * Specials.—Those referred by Head Teachers with Emergency Forms | |||||
Whilst no apparent increase is shown in the acceptance rate
for the current year, it should be remembered that results have
been obscured by the introduction for the first time of a substantial
proportion of children at secondary schools. As was
expected, the response from these schools was not as great as
in the case of those Departments which had been within the
scheme for a longer duration. Another factor is that many ot
the above children have in the past been in receipt of regular
treatment from private practitioners, and these will in all
probability for the present continue to attend the dentist of their
choice.