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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113
throughout the whole of the Easter Term. This of course
once again placed great strain on the nursing staff and it
was necessary to call on outside assistance. In October,
1961, the school had a slight epidemic of mumps, followed
by chicken pox and German Measles, the latter bringing
with it a rather disturbing virus infection. At this time the
new Resident School Nurse, Mrs. Vallance, commenced
duties but owing to the number of children falling sick it
became necessary to turn one of the dormitories into a sick
ward and to enlist the aid of the British Nurses Co-operative
Association at Oxford for auxiliary nursing duties. The
situation did not ease until the end of the term.
CHIROPODY CLINICS. - Owing to the pressure on the
chiropody clinics from the aged and physically handicapped,
sanction has not yet been received for the scheme to include
treatment for school children.
MINOR AILMENT CLINICS. - The Minor Ailment
clinics functioned as last year, a full session weekly being
operated at both the Mayesbrook and Kenwood Gardens Clinics.
In addition facilities were afforded for any urgent cases to
consult the doctor at the immunisation clinics held weekly
at Mayesbrook Clinic and the Kenwood Gardens Clinic.
NEW AND ORIGINAL WORK. - During the year two
interesting surveys were commenced, one on the Mental
Sub-normality in Twins and Premature Children, and the
other respecting Childhood Malignancies.
Dr. Taylor commenced a series of lectures to small
groups in Secondary Boys' Schools on the relevancy of
smoking to lung cancer. He has also taken the opportunity
during routine medical inspections of school leavers in
certain selected Grammar Schools of giving sex education to
very small groups.
A second small class containing a further six maladjusted
children was opened during the year.
SPECIALIST SERVICES. - The various specialist
clinics functioned as in previous years and these are the
subject of separate reports by the Consultants included under
the particular Clinic details.