[Report 1948] / Medical Officer of Health, Birkenhead County Borough.

  • Birkenhead (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1948
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1948] / Medical Officer of Health, Birkenhead County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    48/74 (page 46)
    The problem of tlie maladjusted child is one on which the Ministry of I^ducation lays much import, and the cause of maladjustment is frequently to be found in the home. The value of a Child Guidance Clinic in investigating the home circumstances, advising the parents, and in directing and training the child has now been fully proven and the Local ILhication Authority will have to consider the establishment of a Child Guidance Clinic as soon as circumstances permit. S. General The new “Alain Aledical Record” Cards emphasise the importance of the child's social background and contain a full medical history of each child during its school life. These cards are, on completion of the child’s school career, transferred to tlie I'lxecutive Council, thereby ensuring continuity of treatment throughout the individual’s life. The genei'al health of the school children was good, and, with the exception of measles, which, in February, reached the higliest peak it has yet attained in the Boi*ough since notihcation was made compulsory, there has been no increase in the zymotic diseases. The acquisition of an X-ray plant at the Dental Clinic has proved invaluable iu detecting minimal lesions which might otherwise have escaped observation. During the year Dr. D. L. Alurray, Senior Assistant Aledical Officer, and Senior Assistant School Aledical Officer, terminated his a])pointment to take up duty witli the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board. Dr. D. F. Alorgan was appointed Deputy Aledical Officer of Ileallh, and Deputy School Aledical Officer: Dr. W. F. Christian was a))pointed Assistant Aledical Officer, and Assistant School Medical (Officer. A disturbing factor has been the inability to obtain Dental Officers to fill vacancies in the School Dental Service. The causes for this shoi-tage of a]')plicants, which is prevalent throughout the country, a?-e well known and do not require explanation. The School Dental S(M-vice is woi-king at high stress aiid caimot be expected to maintain its pi-f)gi-amme until its ftdl complement of Dental Officers is achieved. It is hf)ped that the negotiations which are now taking place may haul \() a sobilimi of the pia'sent impasse at an early date. Mr. Oi. R. Demy)S(iy, the Direc^tor of Fdiuaation, has announced hi- inqxaidiiig prematura* radii’eiru'ut orr aca*a)imt of ill-herdth, and 1 V. i h to tak'e tliis opj)f>r’1 unity of aelmowledgirrg the (dose co-operaitiorr and liaisfjii whirdi has existerl betwa'cn our' 1 )(*parlm(-*uts in th(*, past, and wliifdi was made yrossible Iry liar eourt(*sy and consideration he has alway howti irr our iriter’-departmental dealings.