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50
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE.
The administration of the School Health Service continues
to be a function of the Middlesex County Council. The local
Education Divisional Executive makes the arrangements for medical
examination while the Area Health Committee arranges for treatment
and disposal of the children.
The number of children on the school registers has increased
from 7,492 in 1920 to 22,622 in 1950.
During the year 6,630 children were seen at routine examinations
(6,885 in 1949) and 2,321 were seen again at "follow-up"
inspections. In addition, another 3,511 children were referred
by the teachers, school nurses and parents for special examinations
by the doctors. This means a total of 10,141 children were seen
by the school doctors during the year—or almost 50% of the number
on the register.
The ideal is the annual examination of every child and while
this is not yet practicable, there can be few conditions that escape
the notice of nurse, parent, teacher and doctor.
At the end of the year the Borough was divided into six
areas, and one assistant medical officer was made responsible for
the health of the children in each area.
This system ensures that the same doctor attends the antenatal
clinic, child welfare clinic and school clinics in the district.
The mother and child thus come to know, trust and respect the
doctor. A much more personal relationship develops under such
circumstances than in a departmentalised system where each doctor
specialises in one type of clinic. Under the latter system the
anxious mother is confronted by a succession of new faces in her
transit from one clinic to the next.
The doctor also benefits, for instead of seeing a "series of
cases," he knows the mothers and children as individuals and finds
great interest in following their progress and development. The
child at the clinic is no longer considered as an isolated unit but
as a member of a family group.
Children are examined as routine on entry to school, in their
last year at the junior school, and finally in the last year at the
secondary school.
This "leavers" examination is of great importance to the
child's future career. Recommendations are made to the Youth
Employment Officer should any physical or mental handicap exist
which makes certain occupations unsuitable.