[Report 1913] / Medical Officer of Health, Ipswich County Borough.

  • Ipswich (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1913] / Medical Officer of Health, Ipswich County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    (2) Dirty or neglected children are followed up, and if necessary cleansed, and should the home require it the Nurse informs the Sanitary Department, which then deals with the house. During 1913 co-operation with the S.P.C.C. has proved of value in very had cases of neglect. (3) Children found defective at medical inspection, or excluded from school for illness, are visited. The School Nurse is able to bring many cases into touch with voluntary agencies for the provision of treatment, and more especially after-care. (4) From her knowledge of home conditions the School Nurse is of great value, helping to decide which children require assistance with food or clothing, or both. In conclusion, we would take this opportunity of thanking Nurse Sandbach and Nurse Whitbred for the enthusiasm and efficiency with which they have carried out their many duties during 3913. CO-OPERATION OF TEACHING STAFF. In order that the fullest benefit may be derived from Medical Inspection, the hearty co-operation of the teachers is absolutely necessary. Fortunately in most cases in Ipswich this is forthcoming, and for the help thus given the Medical Staff take this opportunity of expressing their grateful thanks. The teacher, in daily contact with the children, acquires a knowledge of them, their habits and their home circumstances, which when placed at the disposal of the Medical Officer, is of great value in the examination of cases of Debility, Malnutrition or Tuberculosis. With regard to personal hygiene, the influence of the teacher is paramount, and may be made to yield most valuable results. To take only two instances,— in the case of the teeth, the teaching of hygiene may be made to take a practical turn with tooth-brush drill, and rewards for the best kept teeth; and again a handkerchief parade and handker- chief drills are not impracticable in infant classes. If every infant possessed a handkerchief and knew how to use it properly, a great many of the coughs and colds of young children wrould be abolished forthwith. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICERS. It is very pleasing to state that, as in previous years, the help rendered to the Medical Department by the Attendance Officers has been very considerable. Attendance Officer and Medical Inspector are very much interdependent; the help which each can render the other is invaluable, and the result is benefit to the children and more efficient work all round. SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. We have again to record the very valuable help which the Inspectors of this Society have rendered on frequent occasions during the past year. It has been necessary in several instances to refer cases to the supervision of this Society.