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73
SPECIALLY-REFERRED CENTRE.
In February, the School Medical Office at the Town Hall was dismantled
and the room taken over by the Council, as a third room for use in
connection with the National Relief Fund ; the women inspectors' retiring
room had already been appropriated. I endorse the opinion of Dr. Strong,
the acting School Medical Inspector, that the small room now in use at
the Education Office is quite unfit for the purpose of specially-referred
children, many of whom require careful examination in a well-lighted room.
The couch was removed to this room, making it still more overcrowded, but
the bookcase was transferred to my office at the Town Hall.
The attendances of specially-referred cases and absentees due to illness was
therefore increased by those attending for re-examination and amounted to 2488,
compared with 1742 for 1914. In September, it was decided by the Committee
to devote Tuesday afternoons, as well as Saturday mornings, to this work, thus
(as I pointed out) using up a session every week that ought to be devoted to
routine inspection at the schools.
In that month, too, I instructed Dr. Strong to issue " may return " certificates
at the centre, so as to avoid loss of school attendance for those children
able to resume at once.
Arrangements for following up children with defects.
In cases where children have defects needing treatment, the parent is advised
personally if she is present at the inspection, or by letter if she is not. The
cards of these children are specially marked, so that they can be referred to with
ease at future inspections. Plenty of space is given on the inspection card for
fully describing any unusual conditions, and for making notes as to progress.
A record is kept by the School Medical Officer of the names of children with
defects, and a copy is given to the head teacher, who uses his or her influence
to get the same remedied. The child is re-inspected at each visit to the school
and fresh letters sent to parents, when necessary, until the defect is remedied.
In special cases the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is advised,
and the local Inspector, Mr. Jones, has given us much help in this direction.
THE TEMPORARY OFFICERS.
As the temporary school nurse is not, like Nurse Playne was, on the staff of
the Public Health Department, she has no legal power of entry and cannot visit
the homes of the scholars. Indeed, as her Saturday mornings are now engaged at
the specially-referred centre, she would have but little time to do so. When the
war is at an end, another woman officer should be appointed to visit the homes
as regards infectious, contagious and other conditions affecting attendance