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
Ealing 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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52
National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, for further remedial
treatment.
As was inevitable, some children' notified as having poliomyelitis
were subsequently found not to have the disease on
investigation in hospital, although this error was not great considering
the uncertainty of clinical diagnosis in the initial stages
of the disease. On the other hand a few children with slight muscle
weakness, probably due to missed poliomyelitis have been referred
to the school orthopaedic clinic. Fortunately, in these cases
paralysis has been very slight and prognosis good, with adequate
supervision and treatment. All cases discharged from hospital
are carefully followed up in the school health department under
the supervision of the orthopaedic surgeon and attend for physiotherapy
and remedial exercises when this is necessary.
The number of children examined in connection with their employment out of school hours was 193 and of these 6 were found unfit for employment. The nature of employment of those considered fit was :—
| Boys. | |
|---|---|
| Errand Boy | |
| Milk Round | |
| Newspaper Round | |
| Bakers Round | 11 |
| Others | 6 |
| Shop Assistant | 9 |
| Others | |
These children are kept under observation and are submitted
for re-examination at periodic medical inspection in school. If it
is found that employment is detrimental to their health, sanction
to employment out of school hours is withdrawn.
MISCELLANEOUS.
It is usual to group under this heading the medical inspections
which were made of candidates prior to their appointment on
the teaching staff of the education committee and of other candidates
on appointment to various branches of the council's technical
and clerical staff and of manual workers.
All these examinations are carried out by the assistant medical
officers assisted by school nurses. During the year 91 teachers
and 361 other candidates were medically examined.