London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
This page requires JavaScript
51
connection with children attending the Physically Defective
School and Brookfield Hospital. Miss Lewis has kindly contributed
the following report and statistics relating to the
work of the Walthamstow Branch during 1935:—
"The reduction in the number of new cases referred to us
during 1935 was not represented by children requiring convalescence,
and only three less were sent away than in 1934,
namely, 318. There was, however, a marked drop in the
average length of stay, and the number of children needing a
further period in a convalescent home or hospital school was
reduced by more than half.
"Of the total number placed, 58% were referred by Public Officials:—
| School Medical Officers | 132 |
| Tuberculosis Officer | 28 |
| Public Assistance M.O. | 25 |
| Total | 185 |
"A decrease will be noticed in the number of children sent
away actually suffering from rheumatism and extensive heart
lesions. It is also significant that no orthopaedic cases were
sent away for training. Our children now, at the age of 16,
are, with very few exceptions, able to take a place in the
normal labour market and are not so badly crippled at that
age as to require specialised training in a residential training
school.
"New cases (in addition to many re-applications) were referred by:—
| Under 5 years. | Over 5 years | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical men, Hospitals and Dispensaries | 26 | 79 | 105 |
| Tuberculosis Dispensaries and Tuberculosis Care Committees | 1 | 25 | 26 |
| Education Committees and School Medical Officers | 3 | 57 | 60 |
| Public Assistance Committees | 3 | 25 | 28 |
| Local Authorities under Scheme for— | |||
| (1) Rheumatism | 1 | 61 | 62 |
| (2) Orthopædic Care | 93 | 43 | 136 |
| Infant Welfare Centres | 2 | — | 2 |
| Invalid Children's Aid Association | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Voluntary Agencies | 2 | — | 2 |
| Parents | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Totals | 133 | 295 | 428 |