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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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1,659 ( 55%) out of 3,017 were found to be In satlsfactory health and free from any
defect. In addition there were 386 children in whom there was no defect except for dental
caries or other dental abnormality. It is interesting to note, that except for a further
increase in dental defects and an increase in behaviour difficulties mentioned by the
mothers there is no substantial change from the proportion of defects found during 1952.
Endeavours to Increase the amount of group health education given at the child welfare
sessions have continued throughout the year, but many practical difficulties have hindered
this development, and it would seem that for the future a programme of special sessions
devoted to health education might be more helpful.
Attendances at all the Child Welfare Sessions (Including the Toddlers' Clinics) are set out below for the period 1950-1953:-
| Children under 1 Year | Children 1-5 Years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | |
| Number of Individual children. | 2,282 | 2,406 | 2,042 | 2,336 | 4,521 | 5,917 | 5,596 | 5,526 |
| *(79%) | (83%) | (74%) | (81%) | (28%) | (41%) | (44%) | (46%) | |
| Number of attendances | 24,611 | 25,731 | 26,024 | 25,592 | 12,655 | 14,676 | 14,038 | 13,596 |
| †(10.8) | (10.7) | (12.8) | (10.0) | (2.8) | (2.5) | (2.5) | (2.5) | |
Notess-*Figures shown in brackets indicate the approximate percentage of available children
within the age groups who attended the Clinics.
†Figures shown to brackets indicate the average number of attendances made by each
child.
Consultant Clinics.
The number of pre-school children referred to specialist clinics (available on local
authority premises through the School Health Service) during 1953 were as followss-
Ophthalmic 131
Ear, Nose and Throat 36
Paediatric 6l
Child Guidance 14
Speech Therapy 10
30