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
West Ham 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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introduced cheap fares for the children during the school holidays,
to enable them to travel at little cost, to the open spaces
adjoining the Borough—particularly Wanstead Flats, with its
many acres of grassland. This has not only benefited their
health and brought happiness to many of the children, but has
proved a financial asset.
I am indebted to Mr. Slattery for the following Table, which shows the number of children carried at Halfpenny Fares on all West Ham Cars and L.C.C. No. 8 Service Cars during School Holidays in 1927 and 1928, and the advantage taken by the children of the facilities granted :—
| 1927 | 1928 | |
|---|---|---|
| Easter | 69,590 | 146,753 |
| Whitsun | 62,302 | 126,592 |
| Summer Holiday | 442,331 | 396,429 |
| Christmas | 190,082 | 192,150 |
| 764,305 | 861,924 |
Average per day : 12,327 13,260
It will be observed that the average number carried per day
shows an increase of approximately 1,000, which is very gratifying,
and clearly indicates that the concession is appreciated.
CONCLUSION.
The School Medical Department now possess a dossier for
each child entering school, which contains a complete record of
the child's medical history, and details are entered on separate
cards contained in the dossier as regards :—attendances at Child
Welfare Centres and visits by Health Visitors (giving a history
from birth), results of routine medical inspections or special examinations,
treatment received at any of the following Clinics—
Minor Ailments, Dental, Ophthalmic, Tuberculosis, Artificial
Light, also any operation performed or other treatment received
at hospitals, and any attendances at Special Schools, such as the
Open Air (Residential or Day), Mentally Defective or Phvsicallv
Defective.
At the end of the child's school life this dossier, containing
invaluable information, is filed. It is, in my opinion, a matter of
importance that arrangements should be made whereby the medical
history from birth and during school life should be passed on
either to the parents of the child concerned or to some interested
or competent Authority for future reference.
193