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
Hackney 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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Number of children who attended Council clinics during 1970:-
Who were born in 1970 3, 246
Who were born in 1969 3, 120
Who were born in 1965-68 4,661
Total attendances 38, 515
Number of sessions 1,855
Number medically examined 19,036
Number referred elsewhere 544
| Barton House | Shoreditch H.C. (inc. Cranston) | Elsdale Street (inc. Wick) | John Scott H. C. | Lower Clapton | Richmond Road | Upper Clapton | West Hackney | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated population served by the Centre.. | 23,000 | 35,000 | 36,000 | 28,000 | 32,000 | 31, 000 | 36,000 | 13,000 |
| Total number of children who attended | 1,511 | 1,141 | 1,794 | 853 | 1,434 | 1,313 | 1,682 | 1,299 |
| Total attendances | 4,914 | 4,164 | 6,342 | 4,049 | 5,371 | 4,161 | 4,838 | 4,676 |
| Number of sessions | 206 | 193 | 315 | 205 | 248 | 252 | 244 | 192 |
| Number of children medically examined | 2,310 | 1,950 | 2, 830 | 1,851 | 2,677 | 2, 343 | 2,793 | 2,282 |
| Number referred elsewhere | 124 | 27 | 35 | 90 | 63 | 14 | 144 | 47 |
| Average attendance per session | 24 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 24 |
| Per cent medically examined | 47 | 47 | 44 | 46 | 50 | 56 | 58 | 49 |
| Per cent referred by M.O. elsewhere | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
General practitioners now receive the results of the yearly developmental
examinations carried out on children who are on their lists. Two new forms have
been devised for this purpose - one to report a satisfactory result and the
second for details of any handicapping condition or physical defect which may
nave been detected. Brief details are recorded in the child' s examination
record card (Form MCW 46), which is being redesigned to facilitate the recording
of this more detailed examination procedure.
A new poster, advertising the efficacy of the "Ready for School" examination
which is carried out between the ages of four and four and a half will be issued
in 1971. Before school entry it is very important to ensure that handicapping
conditions nave not been missed and to check vision, hearing and speech. Certain
developmental tests are used to give an indication of intelligence level,
dexterity, skill and perseverance. A revised letter to parents urging them to
bring their children to the clinic for this examination and for their pre- school
immunisation nas also been introduced. Percentile weights and heights charts
and the graded balls for distance vision testing in babies aged six to twenty
four months, the latter test devised by Doctor Mary Sheridan, have been ordered
for use in child health centres.
Battered Children
The battering of children is still a subject of great concern and a good deal of
attention was focused on it during the year. Following receipt of the Chief Medical
Officer's Circular CM02/70 and Department of Health and Social Security Booklet
"The Battered Baby" informal discussions were held to review arrangements between
the Medical Officer of Health, Children's Officer and members of their departments.