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 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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In viewing such statistics it should also be realised that these
figures give no indication of the extent of the damage to the individual
mouth. Though many teeth may become unsaveable as
the result of inadequate attention, the true picture does not become
apparent until they have finally to be removed.
Owing to lack of staff, twenty departments (Primary and
Secondary) comprising some 8,628 children, received no routine
dental inspection during the year.
The results obtained from school inspections were as follows :
Acceptance of Treatment 74.4%
Refused Treatment 12.9%
Forms Not Returned 12.7%
The above figures are almost identical with those obtained in
1948 and do not indicate any lessening in the responsibilities of
the service as the result of recent bureaucratic changes.
The following analysis demonstrates the progressive rise in the acceptance rate during recent years:—
RESULTS OF SCHOOL INSPECTIONS.
| 1949. | 1948. | 1946. | 1943. | 1937. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. referred for— | |||||
| Treatment | 9404 | 9432 | 12046 | 9041 | 13498 |
| Consents | 6996:74.4% | 7019 :74.4% | 8433 :70% | 5642:62.4% | 7762 :57.5% |
| (Total Consents Including Specials)* | (10098:80.7%) | (9516:79.1%) | (13810:74%) | (6814:67%) | (10146:63%) |
| Refusals | 1213:12.9% | 1158:12.3% | 1542 :12.8% | 1519 : 16.8% | 3242 : 24% |
| Forms Not Returned | 1195:12.7% | 1255 :13.3 % | 2071 :17.2% | 1880 : 20.8% | 2494 :18.5% |
| * Specials.—Those referred by Head Teachers with Emergency Forms | |||||
Treatment.
Of 10,098 children consenting to treatment (including
specials) 9,513 (94.2 per cent.) were treated and 8,302 (82.6 per
cent.) cured (completely), compared with 9,516 consenting, 9,344
(98.2 per cent.) treated, and 8,614 (90.5 per cent.) cured in 1948.
Clinical sessions fell from 1,832 in 1948 to 1,605.
As a direct result of the slowing down of routine dental
treatment there continues to be a progressive increase in the
number of requests for emergency attention submitted through
Head Teachers; on occasions the volume of such cases has
reached serious proportions. Recent statistics have established
that during the year one child in every three attended because of
toothache or other "acute" conditions.