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 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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many members of the Health Department Staff. Visits are arranged by the Principal Health Education
Officer and information supplied. In conjunction with the Borough Librarian, a list of suitable
books held in libraries throughout the Borough covering most aspects of health, but more especially
the subject of sex education, is being reviewed by the Principal Health Education Officer. This
will enable those parents wishing to do so, to provide sex education for their own children. By
providing this book list for parents, it is hoped that both parents and children will benefit. In schools,
the out-dated concept of "sex education" has gone. The subject is included in Biology Classes,
Religious Instruction and progresses to personal relationships, then on to special subjects. The
Health Education Unit provides a service by offering specialist personnel to assist the teachers in
presenting the more specialist subjects such as Child Development Drug Abuse et al. It is hoped
that more Headteachers will use the service being offered and that a comprehensive pattern of
health education will exist in infant, junior and secondary schools throughout the Borough. The
overall aim is to introduce not only specific health topics into the school curriculum but to increase
the number of schools providing a Community Health Syllabus.
| Number of Talks Given | Total Audience Reached | Schools | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Officers | 16 | 900 | Secondary Pupils & Teachers Parent/Teachers Associations |
| Dental Officers and Dental Auxiliary | 21 | 811 | St. Michael's, Moorcroft, Meadow, Park Place, Glebe School, Newman Ave., Eastcote Ruislip Gardens Special Class |
| Principal Health Education Officer October-December 1971 | 20 | 400 | Grammar Secondary |
| Health Visitors | 67 | 1,440 | Secondary Schools Primary Schools |
| Public Health Inspectors | 1 | 20 | St. Helens |
INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT
Children who may need special education because of lack of progress in their normal school
are referred to the school health service for an assessment. This includes not only a physical
examination but also a test of intelligence and, if educational sub-normality is suspected, a formal
recommendation is made. Tests of intelligence may also be necessary whilst investigating certain
medical conditions and can be applied to pre-school as well as to school children. Special training
is necessary before intelligence tests can be administered by medical officers, and during 1971
three doctors attended the necessary courses. One was approved and two were completing their
probationary period at the end of the year. A fourth doctor was given specialised training in the
assessment of the intelligence of pre-school children.
There were 106 intelligence assessments completed by the medical staff of the school health
service, and 73 by medical staff of the child health service during the year. A total of 309 medical
examinations and re-examinations of educationally sub-normal pupils were completed during 1971.
148