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
Haringey 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]
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School Meals were served at 106 schools or departments.
Meals consumed by pupils on an average day in the Autumn Term, 1966.
| No. Present | No. taking paid meals | No. taking free meals | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant & Nursery | 7,205 | 5,132 | 266 | 5,398 |
| Junior Schools | 10,614 | 7,787 | 436 | 8,223 |
| Secondary | 13,204 | 8,607 | 389 | 8,996 |
| Total | 31,023 | 21,526 | 1,091 | 22,617 |
Total number of meals prepared during year ended 31st December 1966, 4,384,800 (including Staff
meals).
Tuberculosis
Prevention of Tuberculosis by B.C.G. Vaccination
B.C.G. vaccination isoffered to all school children over the age of 13 years. No further education
students availed themselves of the opportunity to have B.C.G. vaccination during the year.
Thefollowingtablegives details of the B.C.G. vaccination carried out by the Council during 1966:-
| School Children | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number | % | |
| Parents approached | 3187 | |
| Parents accepted | 2797 | 87.8 |
| Number skin tested | 2560 | |
| Number found positive | 254 | 9.9 |
| Number found negative | 2173 | 84.9 |
| Number failed to attend for Mantoux reading | 132 | 5.2 |
| Number vaccinated (% of those approached) | 2173 | 68.2 |
Cases of Tuberculosis occurring in teachers or pupils
Where a member of the staff or pupil at any school in the Borough is found to be suffering from
tuberculosis, investigations into all school contacts are undertaken, where these are necessary, under
the supervision of the chest physician. A case of tuberculosis is not necessarily always infectious,
but where it is, steps are taken by skin testing and X-rays, to determine whether any contacts are
affected.
In one instance during 1966, the chest physician recommended epidemiological investigation at the
school, which showed that no other members of the school had been infected.
Peak Flow Meter Testing
Towards the end of 1966 a trial was carried out at a Senior Boys School in conjunction with the staff
of Finchley Chest Clinic, who supplied the Peak Flow Meter.
The sole object of routine testing was to pick out the children who were below par in ventilatory
function. All 275 children on the school roll were tested, and the children who failed (31) were then
examined by full spirometry. Those children who failed the later test were examined at the chest clinic
and given breathing exercises. Special advice was given about the dangers of smoking and the children
will be followed up for a number of years to see if they develop any tendencies to chest disease later in
school life, the object of the trial being to prevent this development if possible.
Uncleanliness and Verminous Conditions
School nurses visit the schools regularly to carry out hygiene inspections. While verminous heads
are now the exception rather than the rule, vigilant watch is kept to prevent the spread of infection. The
following details are submitted concerning hygiene inspections carried out in 1966:-
Number of individual examinations of pupils in schools by school nurses 55,613
Number of individual pupils found to be infested 225
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