[Report 1933] / School Medical Officer of Health, Essex County Council.

  • Essex County Council
Date:
1933
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1933] / School Medical Officer of Health, Essex County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/38 (page 4)
    Every effort was made to complete the inspection of each school during the year, l)ut with tlie limited staff this was found to he impossible, particularly in the still growing ])0])ulous areas of Hornchurch and Romford. Nevertheless, there was a great increase in the number of examinations, particularly in the three code groups. Findings of Medical Inspection. Table II on page 27 gives the number of children found by routine medical inspection to require treatment (excluding uncleanliness and dental diseases). Ot the 37,798 examined, 5,414 or 14.32 per cent, were found to require treatment, a reduction of 9.53 per cent, when compared to the previous year, which is very satisfactory. School Nurses, with the assistance of the District Nurse-Midwives, continued the work of following up those children who were, found to be in need of treatment, the former making 33,421, and the latter 9,647 visits to homes. Minor Ailment Clinics. There are 28 Minor Ailment Clinics in the Administrative County. During the year, a building at Waltham Abbey was adapted as a Treatment Centre, and a Treatment Centre was erected in each of the following places :—Chingford, Hornchurch and South Benfleet, the last named being opened early in 1934. Attendances at all the Clinics have been well maintained, 17,086 children making 38,458 attendances during the year. Treatment of Tonsils and Adenoids. There was a marked decrease in the number of children receiving operative treatment—see Table IV on page 31. This has no doubt been brought about as a result of the instructions which were issued to the School Medical Inspectors in- June, 1932, which aimed at ensuring that only children actually in need of oper- ation were recommended. Endeavours are being made to extend the facilities for. treatment with a view to bringing the Treatment Centres as near to the children’s homes as possible. Defective Vision. During the year there w'as a marked increase in the number of children receiv- ing treatment for defective vision, no less than 3,718 being dealt with under the Committee’s scheme; 1,622 were prescribed spectacles, and 1,507 actually obtained spectacles. It is pleasing to note that in 1934 the Committee propose adding to the treat i ment staff by appointing a skilled oculist for as.dsting in this most importaii' conservative and ameliorative work.