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 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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TABLE 2
Analysis of cases closed during the year (including cases referred in previous years).
| Walthamstow | Outer Area | |
|---|---|---|
| Improved and recovered | 48 | 14 |
| Interrupted due to non-co-operation | 20 | 6 |
| Placed away from home | 8 | 5 |
| Diagnosis and advice only | 31 | 8 |
| Spontaneously improved after partial service | 14 | 9 |
| Recommended E.S.N. School and School for the Physically Handicapped | 3 | 2 |
| Cases closed for miscellaneous causes | 4 | 7 |
| Totals | 128 | 51 |
WAITING LIST
The Waiting List at the end of 1949 was:—
Walthamstow 36
Outer Area 30
These comparatively low figures may be attributed to the
closing of the waiting list in March, 1949, which has led to a
temporary reduction in the number of cases being referred since
that date.
Psychiatric Social Worker—Interviews and Visits
| Interviews | Home Visits | Other Calls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walthamstow | 591 | 14 | 74 |
| Outer Area | 183 | 18 | — |
REPORT OF THE PLAY THERAPIST
Mrs. K. B. Barker reports as follows:—
During the past year, in addition to individual therapy, three
small groups, with three or four children in each, have been
formed. This work is still experimental in the sense that (a) the
bases for grouping, and (b) the purposes best served by this kind
of therapy, are still being worked out.
With regard to the former, the groups at present consist of
children of roughly the same age, all of whom have received some
individual help and who are considered likely to make a good
contact with each other.
The purposes served vary with the groups. A group of
pre-adolescent girls has been used by them chiefly for the expression
and development of their strivings for independence in the home.
Here, it has been interesting to contrast the behaviour of an overaccepted
only child with that of a girl who is burdened with
responsibility for several younger brothers and sisters.