London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Heston and Isleworth 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]

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Tuberculosis.
One case (T.B. rt. hip) was found to need treatment during the year.
Other Defects and Diseases.
Fifteen defects which could not be classified under any other heading in Table II were
found during routine medical inspection.
The number of "other defects and diseases" found by special inspection was 2,032. Of
these, 1,748 were referred for treatment. They were almost entirely minor ailments (minor
injuries, bruises, sores, etc.).
6.—FOLLOWING UP.
Every possible care is taken that no child requiring treatment shall be allowed to continue
without it. Parents are notified in writing of all physical defects discovered in their children
during routine medical inspection, and those parents who take advantage of our invitation and
attend the inspection, receive verbal advice also. A special " Following-up " card is then made
out, and one of the School Nurses visits the home and explains how treatment can be obtained.
Further visits are paid from time to time as may be necessary. The Following-up card is " kept
alive " until the condition for which it was made out is remedied.
Nurses paid 366 visits in this connection during the year.
The most difficult feature of this work is the wilful neglect of certain parents whose
obstinacy fails to respond to persuasion. Such cases have to be referred to the Committee, who
generally decide to pass them on to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
The following is a list of the School Nurses' duties, with brief statistics relating to their
activities during the year under review.
Duties.
1. Attend Routine Medical Inspections at schools with the Medical Officer, and assist in
weighing and measuring children, etc.
2. Attend Re-inspections at schools with the Medical Officer.
3. " Following-up " as outlined above.
4. Attend Eye Clinics.
5. Attend Minor Ailments Inspection Clinics with Medical Officer.
6. Attend Minor Ailments Treatment Clinics and undertake daily treatments.
7. Attend Dental Clinics.
8. Attend Dental Inspections at Schools.
9. Visit Schools and inspect all children for uncleanliness (Cleanliness Survey).
10. Attend Clinics for re-inspection of dirty children (Cleanliness Clinics).
11. Visit children's homes for enquiries in cases of non-notifiable infectious disease.
12. Visit homes of children who fail to attend Clinics or attend irregularly.

Summary of School Nurses' work during 1937.

Attendances.
Routine Medical Inspections219
Re-inspections42
Eye Clinics140
Minor Ailments Inspection Clinics (with Medical Officer)284
„ „ Treatment Clinics1332
Dental Clinics636
Cleanliness Surveys75
Cleanliness Clinics58
Other Attendances (Special Clinics, Med. Exam, of Teachers, School Sports, etc.)60
Total Attendances2846