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
Willesden 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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8
Medical Treatment in Willesden.—During the year 1939, school children were followed up
by the Health Department on account of 11,869 medical defects and 4,132 dental defects. Of those
defects found to require treatment, medical or dental treatment was obtained for 10,796 and domestic
treatment was obtained for 1,688. 90 per cent. of the medical defects were treated, 74 per cent.
receiving medical treatment and 16 per cent. domestic treatment, 73 per cent. of the dental defects
followed up were treated. No record is available of defects requiring treatment which were not
followed up. 95 per cent. of the total medical defects treated and 99 per cent. of the total dental
defects treated were dealt with by the Education Committee. The remainder, or 5 per cent. of the
medical defects and 1 per cent. of the dental defects treated, were dealt with by private practitioners,
voluntary hospitals or other charitable institutions. or Public Assistance. In connection with defects
treated, the children concerned made 60,967 attendances at the Health Centres in 1939.
HEALTH CENTRES.
ATTENDANCES.
Table No. 6.
Medical and Dental Treatment—Attendances at Health Centres, 1939.
| Condition. (1) | Mothers, and Children under Five. | School Children. (8) | Grand Total (Cols. 7 and 8). (9) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expectant Mothers. (2) | Nursing Mothers. (3) | Children under Five. | Total (Cols. 2—5). (7) | ||||||||||||||
| 0—1. (4) | 1—5. (5) | Total (Cols. 4 and 5). (6) | |||||||||||||||
| 1. Cleansing | - | 6 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 276 | 286 | ||||||||||
| 2. Throat, Nose and Ear Diseases | — | — | 57 | 1,131 | 1,188 | 1,188 | 6,597 | 7,785 | |||||||||
| 3. Minor Ailments | 46 | 179 | 1,299 | 3,741 | 5,040 | 5,265 | 26,120 | 31,385 | |||||||||
| 4. Eye Diseases | 7 | 12 | 280 | 485 | 765 | 784 | 3,284 | 4,068 | |||||||||
| 5. Skin Diseases | 24 | 37 | 282 | 258 | 540 | 601 | 711 | 1,312 | |||||||||
| 6. Artificial Sunlight Treatment | — | — | 524 | 2,567 | 3,091 | 3,091 | 3,922 | 7,013 | |||||||||
| 7. Orthopaedics | 1 | 41 | 419 | 1,814 | 2,233 | 2,275 | 3,387 | 5,662 | |||||||||
| 8. Medical Consultations | 14,305 | 29,907 | 30,331 | 14,104 | 44,435 | 88,647 | _ | 88,647 | |||||||||
| 9. Diphtheria Immunisation | — | — | — | 364 | 364 | 364 | 386 | 750 | |||||||||
| 10. Total (1—9) | 14,383 | 30,182 | 33,192 | 24,468 | 57,660 | 102,225 | 44,683 | 146,908 | |||||||||
| 11. Dental Consultations | 2,889 | 1,606 | 997 | 997 | 5,492 | 7,485 | 12,977 | ||||||||||
| 12. Total (10—11) | 17,272 | 31,788 | 33,192 | 25,465 | 58,657 | 107,717 | 52,168 | 159,885 | |||||||||
| 13. School for Mothers | — | — | — | — | — | 3,067 | — | 3,067 | |||||||||
| 14. Nursery | — | — | — | — | — | 2,943 | — | 2,943 | |||||||||
| 15. Miscellaneous | — | — | — | — | — | 40,083 | 9,185 | 49,268 | |||||||||
| 16. Grand Total (12—15) | 17,272 | 31,788 | 33,192 | 25,465 | 58,657 | 153,810 | 61,353 | 215,1631 | |||||||||
| (1) | Health Centre (1). | Health Centre (2). | Health Centre (3). | Grand Total. (11) | |||||||||||||
| Mothers and Children under Five. (2) | School Children | Total. (4) | Mothers and Children under Five. (5) | School Children | Total. (7) | Mothers and Children under Five. | School Children | Total. (10) | |||||||||
| 17. Medical Attendances | 20,827 | 10,865 | 31,692 | 48,033 | 13,359 | 61,392 | 33,365 | 20,459 | 53,824 | 146,908 | |||||||
| 18. Dental Attendances | 1,684 | 1,381 | 3,065 | 1,941 | 2,637 | 4,578 | 1,867 | 3,467 | 5,334 | 12,977 | |||||||
| 19. School for Mothers | 1,213 | — | 1,213 | 800 | — | 800 | 1,054 | — | 1,054 | 3,067 | |||||||
| 20. Nursery Attendances | 1,556 | — | 1,556 | 481 | — | 481 | 906 | — | 906 | 2,943 | |||||||
| 21. Miscellaneous | 17,102 | 2,737 | 19,839 | 17,658 | 4,509 | 22,167 | 5,323 | 1,939 | 7,262 | 49,268 | |||||||
| 22. Total | 42,382 | 14,983 | 57,365 | 68,913 | 20,505 | 89,418 | 42,515 | 25,865 | 68,380 | 215,163* | |||||||
*In addition 1968 attendances were made by secondary and technical school children and the following attendances
by adults:—Cleansing 150, Skin Diseases 69, Diphtheria Immunisation 3, Varicose Ulcers 604, Eye Diseases 4, and
Orthopaedics under Section 181 of the Public Health Act, 1936, 81, making a total of 2,879, which, together with the
215,163 above, makes a grand total of 218,042.