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 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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120
Owing to lack of staff eighteen departments (Primary and
Secondary) comprising some 4,790 children, received no routine
dental inspection during the year.
The results obtained from school inspections were as follows:—
| Acceptance of Treatment | 68.0% |
| Refused Treatment | 18.5% |
| Forms Not Returned | 13.5% |
As indicated above a further decline of 3.9 per cent, is seen
in the number accepting treatment, making a decrease of 0.4 per
cent, since the peak of 1949. This reduction is chiefly related
to the more understaffed areas where parental anxiety would seem
to be reflected by action favouring treatment by private
practitioners.
The following Table demonstrates the variation in the acceptance rate during recent years:—
RESULTS OF SCHOOL INSPECTIONS.
| 1951. | 1950. | 1949. | 1943. | 1937. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. referred for— | |||||
| Treatment | 12920 | 11716 | 9404 | 9041 | 13498 |
| Consents | 8790: 68% | 8420: 1.9 % | 6996: 74.4% | 5642:62.4% | 7762:57.5°;, |
| (Total Consents Including Specials)* | (11358:73.3%) | (10817:76 6%) | (10098:80.7%) | (6814:67%) | (10146:63%) |
| Refusals | 2390: 18.5% | 1757: 15% | 1213:12.9% | 1519: 16.8% | 3242: 24% |
| Forms Not Returned | 1740: 13.5% | 1539:13.1 % | 1195:12.7% | 1880 : 20.8% | 2494:18.5% |
* Specials.—Those referred by Head Teachers with Emergency Forms
Treatment.
Of 11,358 children consenting to treatment (including
specials) 10,067 (88.0 per cent.) were treated and 8,353 (73.5 per
cent.) cured (completely), compared with 10,817 consenting, 9,717
(89.8 per cent.) treated, and 8,220 (75.9 per cent.) cured in 1950.
As a result chiefly of increased sessions by part-time staff,
operative sessions rose from 1,921 to 2,200. Assistance thus given
has materially helped in reducing arrears of treatment,
particularly for schools in outlying areas. An index of the improved
position will be gained in noting that the ratio of fillings
inserted per 100 children treated, which in more normal times
stood at approximately 120 and fell in 1949 to G5.3, has now
assumed the more substantial level of 107.7 for the current year.