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

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East Ham 1928

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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49
that a second School Dentist and Nurse have been appointed, as
during this year only urgent cases have been able to obtain immediate
treatment, owing to pressure of work. The great disadvantage
in treating expectant and nursing mothers is the difficulty
encountered in the provision of dentures—and it would be a great
advantage if facilities were provided to enable them to be obtained
at a reduced rate.
Details of the work done for dental cases referred from this
Department will be found in Mr. Neam's Annual Report, p. 124.
Many thanks are due to the Dental Staff for their unfailing
courtesy and ready co-operation.
Ophthalmic Treatment.
Ophthalmic defects requiring special consideration are seen at
the Special Clinic each week by the School Ophthalmic Surgeon.
Details of the work done will be found in Mr. Gimblett's
Annual Report, p. 121.
Treatment by Artificial Sunlight.
This special form of treatment, begun in 1927, has been
continued throughout the winter and spring months. At present
two sessions are held weekly—Tuesday, 3.30-5 p.m., and Thursday,
2-4 p.m. The short time in which the School Clinic premises
are available for the use of the Maternity and Child Welfare Centre
is quite inadequate for the large number on the waiting list, and
for the requisite number of exposures.
The arrangements for the convenience of mothers bringing the
children for Sunlight treatment to the Town Hall are by no means
ideal. They are obliged to carry one or more children to the top of
the building, and the limited space in the waiting room makes it
difficult for the accommodation and care of other children of the
family who cannot be left at home. An ideal Clinic would include
a lamp of a suitable height for babies, and a small arm chair for
each child, thus avoiding- the necessity, unless desirable, for
mothers to take the exposure with the child. If these facilities
were provided at the Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, three
full sessions per week could be allotted to this branch of the work,
and one of the large rooms used as a playing room for other
children accompanying their mothers.