London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Edmonton 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
This page requires JavaScript
It will be seen from these figures that the average total increase in new
cases over this four year period is 90.7 per annum, an indication of the growing
interest in this Clinic. The numbers treated show a corresponding average
increase of 41.7 p.a. The sessions during this period were booked to capacity
and it was not possible to materially enlarge upon this average. Similar increases
will be seen in all items of these tables with the exception of extractions with
local anaesthetics and scalings, which show a small decline. The overall figures
show a pleasing and progressive picture.
At the beginning of 1948, it was evident that extra sessions would have
to be devoted to the M. & C.W. work to deal with the larger numbers now
requiring treatment. In consequence of which, an additional session was introduced
once a month at the Croyland Road Clinic, which continued until the
introduction of the Act on the 5th July.
The following tables will show a continued increase in new cases, and cases actually treated, of 63 and 170 respectively, over the six month period January—June 30th, 1947, during the first six months of 1948. The remaining items speak for themselves and, I think, require no further comment.
| Jan - June 1947 | Jan - June 1948 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mothers | Children | Mothers | Children | |
| No. of attendances | 537 | 289 | 728 | 367 |
| „ „ new cases | 180 | 141 | 208 | 176 |
| „ treated | 302 | 272 | 397 | 347 |
| „ fillings | 63 | - | 86 | - |
| ,, dressing | 14 | 467 | 36 | 648 |
| „ scalings | 13 | - | 24 | - |
| Extraction (No. of teeth) | ||||
| (a). General anesthetics | 687 | 136 | 921 | 195 |
| (b). Local , | 6 | - | 16 | - |
| No. of sessions | 49 | 59 | ||
The first half of the year showed great promise and but for the sad
lack of premises and shortage of staff, much might have been done to create
a large and flourishing service, which I am convinced would have grown very
rapidly.
In this brief survey I have endeavoured to give a rough idea of the
progress of our M. & C.W. Dental Service under the 1918 Act period. In
many respects I am sorry that it has gone so far as it concerns this particular
work.
(b) The Act Period (5th July—December, 1948).
The coming of the Health Act, upset our smooth running to some
extent, many of our mothers were confused and did not understand to what
extent the service was still open to them. Many of them, no longer nursing
mothers, whose children were over one year of age, were no longer entitled
to seek treatment for themselves through the medium of the Welfare Service,
and were obliged to attend privately with their family Dentists. Others in this
class were already under treatment, and presented something of a problem.
However, I was permitted to finish the work in hand before finally concluding
their visits.
37