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
Walthamstow 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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result has been recorded and we await the opportunity to extend the
methods employed. Work in this field is made doubly difficult by
the shortage of teaching staff but the success of the experiment
encourages us to believe that valuable work can be done towards the
prevention of mental illness along these lines.
The Pyschologist acts in an advisory capacity to the Education
Authority on the psychological aspect of the varied problems
concerned with educationally backward and difficult children. She
is concerned with special aptitudes and the measures necessary for
ensuring the proper education of children possessing them. She also
undertakes the mental testing of children under consideration for
certification by the Medical Officer."
REPORT ON THE WORK OF VALTHAMSTOW CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC,
JANUARY - DECEMBER 1944.
Total number of cases referred January - December 31st 1944 261
Number of cases investigated by Psychologist and/or Social Worker 242
Number of cases having received full diagnosis by Clinic team 40
Number of cases recommended for intensive treatment 33
Number of cases under treatment on December 31st 27
Number of cases awaiting full diagnosis and treatment 18
Number of cases treated and under treatment throughout year 63
In 18 cases treatment was cut short by evacuation.
The 7 cases not treated were disposed as follows:
1 Adjusted after initial interview.
1 Recommended for Nursery School.
1 Transfer to Forest School.
1 To be transferred to residential special school.
3 Advice given at school and at home.
Number of cases treated and closed 20
Status at closure:-
Adjusted 15
Improved 5 (2 of these have left school)-
Problem as referred.
| Nervous Disorders. | Habit Disorders. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fears | 6 | Sleep | 1 |
| Seclusiveness | 1 | Movement | 1 |
| Depression | 1 | Feeding | 1 |
| Excitability | 2 | Excretory | 7 |
| Apathy | 2 | Nervous pains & | |
| Obsessions | 1 | Paralysis | 2 |
| 13 | 12 | ||
Behaviour Disorders.
Unmanageable 7
Temper 2
Aggressiveness 4
Jealous Behaviour 1
Demanding attention 2
Stealing 4
Lying & romancing 1
Truancy 2
Sex Difficulty 3
26
Educational & Vocational Difficult
Backwardness 7
Inability to concentrate 1
Inability to keep jobs 2
Special disabilities 2
12
For special examination.
Admission to special homes
and hostels 1
Psychological exam. 26
Educational advice 173
200
20