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5
To the Chairman and Members of the
Walthamstow Committee for Education.
In the following pages I submit a report on the School Health
Service in the Excepted District of Walthamstow for the year 1956
and I offer the following comments.
There were comparatively few changes in the staff, the most
notable being the resignation on retirement of Mr. L. W. Elmer,
L.D.S., Senior Dental Surgeon, who was appointed to the service
of the former Walthamstow Education Committee in April, 1932.
Mr. Elmer has guided the development of the Dental Service in
Walthamstow and leaves behind him a well integrated department.
He has rendered fine service to the people of Walthamstow, and
notably to the children. Fortunately Mr. Elmer continues with his
work in a part-time capacity in the General Dental Service.
The improvement of the sanitary accommodation in six departments
is recorded, but on the other side is the non-approval of your
Committee's schemes totalling nearly £27,000 for further improvements.
The teaching of hygiene in schools with antiquated sanitary
accommodation borders on the humorous.
A new low record was established in regard to uncleanliness.
An investigation into the incidence of verrucae at a Junior
School is described, and it was disquieting that at the end of the
year there were 106 children affected with this condition at twentyfive
school departments.
For reasons given in the interesting report by Dr. Mary
Wilmers, F.R.C.P., the Rheumatism and Cardiac Clinic begun in
1932 was merged with the Paediatric Clinic. This clinic was commenced
by Dr. Wilfrid Sheldon, F.R.C.P., and it was almost
incredible to look back to the dreadful days of the early 1930's when
so many cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever were followed by
damaged hearts.
Dr. Hinden in his report on the Paediatric Clinic refers to "the
rising standard of health, which throws into strong relief the few
chronic ailments in childhood which still defy control."
The Speech Therapists describe the advantages of the parental
escort of children for speech therapy.
Rather slow progress is being made towards the ideal of an
annual chest X-ray examination for all staff in close contact with
groups of children. Unfortunately progress is not helped by the
continuing inability to refer examinees to the static miniature
Odelca Unit at the Chest Clinic.
Prevention of tuberculosis by B.C.G. vaccination increased
from 728 in 1955 to 1053 in 1956.