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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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First attendances numbered 1,623 against 1,570 in 1957, and
re-attendances 1,941 against 2,313, the total attendances being
3,564 against 3,883.
The following table shows the new cases and attendances at Minor Ailment Clinics since 1950. The decrease reflects the tendency for children to be taken to family doctors.
| 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New cases | 3,356 | 3,106 | 2,990 | 2,397 | 1,782 | 2,017 | 1,565 | 1,570 | 1,622 |
| Attendances | 11,515 | 10,000 | 10,634 | 8,544 | 7,019 | 5,797 | 3,714 | 3,883 | 3,563 |
(e) Dental Treatment.—
School Dental Clinic.—Mr. G. P. L. Taylor submits the following
report:—
"There has not yet been an appointment of a Senior Dental
Officer in Walthamstow since December, 1956, when Mr. L. W.
Elmer retired from the School Dental Service. The administration
of the dental department has suffered accordingly during this period.
"The Department lost the full-time services of Miss S. Johnson
in May, but this has been offset by the appointment of three parttime
dental surgeons on a sessional basis. It is still most desirable,
however, that a full-time appointment be made to replace the
services of Mr. Elmer.
"An interesting feature of the latter part of the year was the
monthly visit of students from the Dental School of the London
Hospital. These visits enable them to see the many sides of a school
clinic in practice. It is to be hoped that these visits will encourage
some recruits to the School Dental Service.
"Although fewer sessions were worked during the year, there
was a slight increase in the number of children inspected at school,
and the total attendances at the clinics were only slightly lower.
"I am very glad to say that the number of fillings done has
increased by over 2,000, and that the number of general anaesthetic
cases has been reduced by about 400. This would indicate that the
number of anaesthetic sessions could be reduced and those sessions
devoted to conservative treatment."
Orthodontics.—The following report has been submitted by Mr.
R. V. Tait, B.Sc., L.D.S., R.C.S., the visiting orthodontist
"I am happy to report that the Dental Department has continued
adequately to meet the local demand for orthodontic
treatment. There is no waiting list of patients. This is largely due
to the number of patients receiving orthodontic treatment from the
school dental officers, with advice or assistance from the orthodontic
clinic where necessary.
"Treatment is carried out mainly by means of simple removable
appliances using standardised designs which experience has proved
to be capable of giving satisfactory results over a wide range of