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Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the dental officers in the Borough for their help in compiling the data, in
particular Mr. J. G. Windmill, Miss K. Goldberg, Mrs. E. Jackson and Mr. P. Kaye.
Mr. M. Southgate, Statistician in the Health Department, gave advice on the presentation of
the data and valuable help on the final processing of the data.
ENURESIS CLINIC
Dr. C. Jennings—School Medical Officer
This experimental special clinic was begun in October 1971 for the treatment of enuretic
children in the Borough. It is run on a weekly basis and is staffed by a medical officer in department,
a clinic nurse and a clinic clerk.
During the year 1972, the clinic had 83 patients on its list, 51 of whom were new patients.
17 of these 83 discontinued treatment for a variety of reasons; namely, 6 transferred to the Minet
Clinic for Enuresis after it had been established, 3 moved from the Borough, 8 failed to attend regularly
in spite of follow-up. The remaining 67 children continued treatment and 32 of them were
able to be discharged as cured. This represents a success rate of almost 48%.
The methods of treatment are varied with the age and temperament of the child. For the younger
patients simple advice to the parents and encouragement to the child together with back-up devices
such as keeping charts and diaries with small sketches were successful in three cases. The older
children were given the alarms which awaken the child when the bladder begins to empty.
The age range of patients attending the clinic is from 6 to 15 years, though few are treated before
the age of 7 years. Among the 67 children who followed the full regime of treatment, 20 were girls
and 47 boys, and the success rate was 10 girls and 22 boys roughly half of each group that was
accepted for treatment.
The time needed for treatment was from one week to as long as one year. The children are given
monthly appointments until pronounced cured and then they may be seen again at a two or three
monthly interval before a final discharge.
A total of 32 alarms are held by the clinic of which 24 are in current use 8 being kept in reserve.
Two booster attachments have been purchased for use by patients who are very deep sleepers.
As more experience is gained of the problem of enuresis, a greater number of children can
expect to be treated in a given time and a higher cure rate achieved.
HEALTH EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
Mrs. P. Mahy, S.R.N., C.M.B. (Part 1). H.V. Cert., Community Care Cert., F.E. Teachers Cert.,
M.I.H.E., M.R.S.H.—Principal Health Education Officer
Miss M. Beynon, Health Education Officer, joined the staff in September 1972.
After an initial difficulty in introducing health education to schools within the Borough some
progress has been made in 1972. A circular letter sent to Headteachers produced a good response.
The policy is to involve parents whenever possible. To date, four parent teachers associations have
invited the Principal Health Education Officer to speak at their evening meetings. An increasing
number of schools are receiving regular visits from the Health Department's team of health educators.
A pilot scheme of health education at Park Place School carried out by Dr. E. W. Jones and the
Principal Health Education Officer proved successful. Following this, a teaching and visual aids
session was given to the nursing staff of Park Place School, who have subsequently continued the
programme.
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