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
Richmond upon Thames 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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debated. Some people hold the view that the child should be seen as soon as he enters
a fresh school, others maintain that the child should have been sufficiently long in the
school to be known by the staff and thus in a position to make comments to the
examining school medical officer.
Again there is a body of opinion that advocates selective medical examinations
after judicious scrutiny of a parental questionnaire instead of a routine medical
inspection. My own view is that a controlled trial in a limited number of schools
would be advisable before a defined policy was enunciated.
Physical Condition of Pupils Inspected.
The general physical condition of school children remains at a very high level.
Out of 3,842 children examined only 15 were found to be of unsatisfactory physical
condition.
The co-operation and collaboration of the teaching staff is gratefully acknowledged.
Without their help and understanding it would not have been possible to arrange these
routine medical inspections.
Table III.
TABLE A. — Pupils found to require treatment at Periodic Medical Inspections (excluding Dental Diseases and Infestation with Vermin).
| Year of birth | For defective vision (excluding squint) | For any of the other conditions in table IV(A) | Total individual pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| 1961 and later | — | 9 | 9 |
| 1960 | 11 | 74 | 84 |
| 1959 | 12 | 28 | 39 |
| 1958 | 5 | 13 | 16 |
| 1957 | 32 | 68 | 93 |
| 1956 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 1955 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| 1954 | 14 | 23 | 35 |
| 1953 | 45 | 54 | 95 |
| 1952 | 15 | 21 | 34 |
| 1951 | 10 | 18 | 27 |
| 1950 and earlier | 195 | 169 | 333 |
| TOTAL | 345 | 491 | 784 |