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 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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will be seen from the amended programme two physiotherapists were in attendance at the Unit
on every session except Monday morning and Thursday afternoon when only one wae in
attendance. The physiotherapeutic services carried out consist of massage, manipulation
and special exercises, and most of the children require individual treatment. In fact so
much attention is given by the physiotherapists that they become familiar with the
characteristic needs and responses of each individual child. Any of these children found
to require ultra-violet irradiation are treated at the nearby Grange Road Clinic.
Location of physiotherapy clinics and times of attendance.
Forest Street Maternity and Monday and Friday 1.30 to 5«15 p.m.
Child Welfare Clinic, Wednesday 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Forest Street, E.7„
Grange Road Maternity and
Child Welfare Clinic, Monday and Friday 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Grange Road, Plalstow, E.13.
Maybury Road Maternity and
Child Welfare Clinic, • Monday 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Maybury Road, Flaistow, E.13. Wednesday and Thursday 1.30 to 5.15 p.m.
The following figures relate to treatment given to school children during the years-
| Number treated | Total number of treatments given | |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Street Clinic | ||
| Sunlight | 90 | 2,074 |
| Massage and Exercises | 55 | 659 |
| Grange Road Clinic | ||
| Sunlight | 85 | 2,272 |
| Massage and Exercises | 50 | 689 |
| Maybury Road Clinic | ' | |
| Sunlight | 10 | 54 |
| Massage and Exercises | 16 | 26 |
| Elizabeth Fry Special School Massage and Exercises | 41 | 6,414 |
At the West Ham Residential Open-Air School, Fyfield, Essex, a number of children
with various chest complaints (asthma, bronchitis and recurrent upper respiratory
infection) received special attention. The physiotherapist made occasional visits to the
school during the year to mark progress. The guidance which she gave to the nursing
staff so that they could continue the relatively simple treatment in between her visits
proved satisfactory. Twenty-four children were treated at the school during the year.
HEART DISEASE AMD RHEUMATISM. At the present time all conditions of the heart
and circulation are grouped together under one heading on the child's medical schedule.
During the year under review 43 cases were referred at periodic and special inspections
for treatment and 64 for observation, these being 20 and 10 less respectively than
-ast year and much less than the figures recorded only a few years ago. Separate
statistics are available for the individual conditions making up the total, and it can
be said that most of the defects consist of anaemia, chilblains and functional disturbances
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