London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hendon 1942

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]

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TABLE.XIV

Number of attendances of Children for Treatment at Health Centres

Public Elementary SchoolsSecondary SchoolsTotal
Minor Ailments26,32026,520
Dental11,195215213,347
Ophthalmic2,1984012,599
Speech1,313401,353
Orthoptic2,2531342,392
Orthopaedic3,4111953,606

SECONDLY SCHOOLS
An,analysis was also made of the nutritional standard of tho children
attending the Secondary Schools, with the following results:-

Table XV.

No. of Children InspectedA (Excollent)B (Normal)C (Slightly sub-normal)D (Bad)
No.%No.%No.%|No.%
1941
130639230,0284764.8 5675.13--
1942
1338 L , ...__39329. 3788466.07604.491 <0.07

The Dental services, however, as far as the school children wore concerned,
were not so well maintained as in the previous year, despite the fact that arrangements
were made for numbers of the Secondary School children to be treated at evening sessions.
The falling off in this work was mainly due to an increase in the Maternity and Child
Welfare Services, particularly in the dental work for expectant mothers, the numbers of
women attending having markedly increased. At least one further full time Dental Officer
could have been usefully employed.
The number of Orthopaedic Surgeon's sessions had to be reduced from 2 to 1 per
month, owing to the Surgical personnel being no longer available. To reduce congestion,
at the sessions, a scheme was instituted whereby suitable cases were referred directly
by the Assistant Medical Officers to the Orthopaedic Nurse for treatment, only those who
failed to respond, or who had defects demanding the attention of the Orthopaedic Surgeon,
being referred to him,although as far as possible, all cases under treatment were seen by
the Orthopaedic Surgeon at regular intervals.
In addition, a scheme was evolved with the assistance of the Physical Training
Instructors, whereby children who had developed minor postural defccts were referred
directly to the Instructors, so that the child could have the benefit of