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
Tottenham 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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81
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
General
The year was an extremely busy one for the school health service. Owing
to the priority given to poliomyelitis vaccination the number of sessions devoted
to periodic medical examinations had to be curtailed, the cut being made in the
intermediate examinations as it was felt that the entrants and leavers examinations
must be held. Despite difficulties the B.C.G. vaccination and diphtheria booster
dose programmes in schools were proceeded with. Much credit is due to the
clerical staff responsible for organising these overlapping programmes. That all
the work is worth while is shown by the vital and infectious disease statistics
for the area.
The work of the cerebral palsy unit at Vale Road Day Special School for the
Physically Handicapped continues to increase, 51 children being under supervision
as against 44 in 1957. Further reference to the work of the unit will be
found in the report of the Consultant on page 91. It appears likely that further
provision for educable cerebral palsied children is likely to prove necessary at
this School.
The number of partially deaf children in attendance at the Senior and Junior
partially deaf units continues to increase and discussions have taken place with
a view to increasing the number of classes for these children. The work of the
audiology unit has been rather hampered by lack of suitable facilities and by a
delay in decisions as to the appointment of a permanent audiologist. Writing now
in May 1959 it does appear that these problems will shortly be overcome.
Routine Medical Inspection
The following table shows the number of children inspected by years of birth and the classification of their physical condition.
| Year of birth | Number of pupils Inspected | Physical Condition of Pupils Inspected | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | ||||
| Number | % | Number | % | ||
| 1954 & Later | 502 | 502 | 100.0 | - | - |
| 1953 | 1163 | 1159 | 99.7 | 4 | 0.3 |
| 1952 | 373 | 370 | 99.2 | 3 | 0.8 |
| 1951 | 107 | 107 | 100.0 | - | - |
| 1950 | 238 | 237 | 99.6 | 1 | 0.4 |
| 1949 | 1748 | 1743 | 99.7 | 5 | 0.3 |
| 1948 | 279 | 278 | 99.6 | 1 | 0.4 |
| 1947 | 512 | 511 | 99.8 | 1 | 0.2 |
| 1946 | 1925 | 1921 | 99.8 | 4 | 0.2 |
| 1945 | 890 | 887 | 99.7 | 3 | 0.3 |
| 1944 | 697 | 696 | 99.8 | 1 | 0.2 |
| 1943 & earlier | 2665 | 2661 | 99 8 | 4 | 0.2 |
| Total | 11099 | 11072 | 99 8 | 27 | 0.2 |