[Report 1965] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Rochdale County Borough.

  • Rochdale (Lancashire, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1965
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1965] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Rochdale County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In January a visit of inspection was paid by one of the above Department’s Dental Officers. The Clinics were all seen, the problems of the Dental Service m the area discussed. In a subsequent report the Minister expresses pleasure at the inspection of all children and the proper emphasis placed on the conserva¬ tion of teeth, and that the present resources were being used to the best advantage. The standard of the Dental Clinics, with the exception of Penn Street, is considered good and equipment generally of a high standard. Recommendations as to further equipment and the appointment of a Senior Dental Officer were made and these have been carried out. Air-rotors were installed at the Spotland and Kingsway Clinics towards the end of the year providing the most up-to-date method of tooth conservation and reducing the time of the operation. In suitable cases it removes any dis¬ comfort from use of the dental drill. A final inspection of children in respect of the Survey of the Ministry of Health on Oral Hygiene and Dental Caries was made at the end of the year. It will be remembered that Rochdale acted as control to a certain Yorkshire town of comparable school population where intensive propaganda has taken place over the past three years. The original inspection of a selected number of children in certain age groups was made in 1963 and the same ages and schools were again inspected by the Ministry’s Inspector. It is expected that the final assessment of the whole Survey will be made available in 1966. It is hoped that some positive steps will be taken in the near future towards the fluoridation of water supplies in the area, since this measure has the full endorsement of the Ministry of Health and the dental profession, and could lead to a great decrease in dental caries in the younger age groups. It is amongst these ages that the greatest damage occurs through premature loss of teeth, and subsequent need for extensive conservation and orthodontic treatment could be greatly reduced with a corresponding increase in dental efficiency and appearance. Health Education No special health education campaigns were carried out during the year. The School Medical Officers, School Nurses and Health Visitors, however, include health education in their routine duties during medical and hygiene inspections.