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

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Ilford 1961

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]

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112
Miss LeSage, Physiotherapist at the Cerebral Palsy
Unit, resigned on 5th August, 1961, to return home to her
own country and Mrs. P. M. Colbert took over her duties
on 4t h September, 1961.
Mrs. W. Butterworth, who had been Resident School
Nurse at Kenny lands Boarding School for many years , resigned
on 29th March, 1961, on reaching retirement age. For
many months the nursing situation at this school was acute,
as they were without a regular nurse. It was not until 13th
November, 1961, that Mrs. M. E. Vallance was appointed to
the post.
VISITS. - (a) The Public Health Inspectors made 1, 132
visits to maintained schools, (1) to enquire as to the milk
supplies and (2) to inspect the sanitary arrangements.
(b) School nurses made (i) 123 visits to schools (111
for general hygiene and 12for head inspections) when 17,071
individual children were examined and 17,463 actual examinations
were made, (ii)2, 276 home visits in regard to treatment
recommended, and (iii) 1,345 home visits to cases of
minor infectious diseases.
(c) I have continued my own regular visitsto schools
in an endeavour to become more fully acquainted with schools
and Head Teachers and have set myself the target of conducting
one routine medical inspection in each school. This
programme, which must depend on the time I have available,
is nearing completion.
(d)A separate report is furnished by the Chief Public
Health Inspector on the general subject of hygiene conditions
in schools.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES. - In the IlfordSchools there
was a rather extensive outbreak of measles which seemed
to follow the usual biennial pattern. It was reported that
in quite a few of the Infant Schools the percentage of school
roll dropped to as low as 50%. The epidemic was at its
height from February to May. During this same period
there was a mild outbreak of mumps in some areas.
At the Kennylands Boarding School we were beset
with the usual difficulties. During the early part of the year
there was a mild outbreak of Sonne dysentery which persisted