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
Hillingdon 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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35
Personal Health Services
| 1967 | 1966 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of persons nursed during the year | 3,139 | 3,281 |
| Number of persons who were aged under 5 at first visit | 37 | 46 |
| Number of persons who were aged 65 or over at first visit | 2,129 | 2,184 |
Observation Register
An observation register has been kept for several years. The register contains the names of children
whose ante-natal and perinatal history suggests that they may be likely to have a handicap, e.g. impairment
of hearing following maternal rubella in early pregnancy, "at risk" following prolonged or
difficult labour or prematurity, mental retardation or paralysis caused by spina bifida or hydrocephalus,
a family history of phenylketonuria or diabetes, etc. Extra care is taken to ensure that these children have
their routine examinations so that any defect can be found as early as possible and steps taken to correct
or alleviate it and to provide any special educational facilities which may be needed later in life.
The majority of names on the register can be removed by the time the child is two years old, as
development has been normal. The names of those who develop a defect are kept on the register and
their progress re-assessed at intervals with the object of providing the most suitable facilities possible
for each child. It is by means of this register that an estimate can be made of the future need for special
schools for the physically or mentally handicapped, physiotherapy, residential or day care for the
severely retarded, and so on.
The figures below give some idea of the scope of the register and also indicate the need for close
co-ordination between the maternity and child welfare, school health and mental health services.
The number of children on the Observation Register at the end of the year was 928. The table
shows those who are known to need, or are thought may require, special arrangements to be made for
their care and education.
The number of children on the Observation Register at the end of the year was 928. The table shows those who are known to need, or are thought may require, special arrangements to be made for their care and education.
| Year of Birth | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | ||
| Defective Vision | — | 1 | — | 5 | ||
| Defective Vision with Mental Defect | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Defective Hearing | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Mental Defect | 13 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 34 |
| Mongolism | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 21 |
| Spastic | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 8 |
| Epileptic | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 5 |
| Heart Disease | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 15 |
| Spina Bifida | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 13 |
| Congenital Dislocation of Hip | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 6 |
| Fibrocystic Disease of Pancreas | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 6 |
| Diabetic | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Cretinism | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Other Physical Handicap | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 18 |
| Totals | 34 | 37 | 26 | 19 | 24 | 140 |