[Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, East Riding of Yorkshire County Council.

  • East Riding of Yorkshire (England). County Council
Date:
1959
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, East Riding of Yorkshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    over as wide an area as ])0ssible b} limiting the routine service to children attending secondary schools. Initially, it will only be i)ossible to take into the scheme those children in their first year at a secondary school, but it should lx possible to see these children again at the next annual visit, together with the new first year entry and eventually to include all those attending secondary schools at each annual inspection. It was decided for the time being to try to continue an inspection and treatment service every two years to primary schools in the North and South-east areas of the ('ounty where, up to the present, treat- ment lias been offered at about 15 month intervals. Even with these limitations, until a dental officer is appointed for the western side of the (\>unty it will be very difficult to provide a service to schools in this western area. It has, however, been possible to jirovide an emergency service at Pocklington. Five medical officers attended courses on general aniesthesia in dentistry. These courses were of great benefit and helped to keep the staff up to date in their technique. A limited orthodontic service has been maintained and during ilie ,vear lit children have received this specialised treatment. Dentures have been supplied to W children. A new mobile dental clinic was purchased and taken over for use in the south-eastern jiart of the County. The equipment for this mobile clinic includes a dental X-ray apparatus. In addition X-ray ai)paratus is provided at the Beverley and Bridlington fixed surgeries. INFECTIOUS DISEASES While there was no serious outbreak of infectious disease in the schools throughout the County, the number of absences of pupils from schools on account of measles was considerably more than in 1958. It is, bowevei’, usual for measles outbreaks to occur bi-annually and this condition is now a relatively minor illness. The 1959 figures of absences due to infectious disease were as follows : — Chicken Pox. Mumps. Measles. Influenza. 1,678 689 5,238 2,218 B.C.G. VACCINATION The offer of B.C.G. vaccination was extended from the thirteen yt'ar old group of school children to include those up to the school leaving age and also to students at University and Training Colleges. During the year this type of vaccination was offered to 2,644 pupils of whom 72.8% accepted. A total of 1,723 children were skin tested and of these 1,423 or 82.6% showed a negative test, and therefore needed vaccination with B.C.G. against tuberculosis. Arrangements were made as far as possible for all children with a positive skin test to be X-rayed and for this facility to be extended to members of their families.