London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Havering 1968

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Havering]

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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE, 1968.
The School Health Service in Havering provides medical
and dental inspection and treatment facilities for over 43,000
pupils attending the Borough's schools. Each child is given a full
medical examination shortly after admission to the Infants' School
(including tests of hearing and vision) when an opportunity is
provided for the parent to discuss any problems with the School
Medical Officer who also advises about immunisation, etc. Further
tests of hearing and vision and cleanliness inspections are carried
out by the School Nurse at intervals during the child's school
life, and examination by the School Medical Officer follows during
during the final year in the Junior School and in the year before
reaching compulsory school leaving age.
A special medical examination or consultation with the
School Medical Officer can be arranged at any time at the request
of the parent or teacher, etc.
Any disorders detected at these inspections are followed up
by appropriate investigation or treatment, in consultation with the
Family Doctor, including referral to a Hospital Specialist when
necessary. A variety of treatment facilities are provided at the
Council's ten Health and Welfare Clinics including Ophthalmic,
Orthoptic, Orthopaedic, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Enuresis,
Minor Ailments, etc.
A Child Guidance service for children with emotional,
educational or family problems is provided at Raphael House,
Western Road, Romford, staffed by a team of Psychiatrists,
Educational Psychologists, Psychiatric Social Worker and
Remedial Teachers.
Parents of school-children are also encouraged to maintain
the protection afforded to their children in infancy by immunisation
against infectious diseases, and facilities are provided for reinforcing
doses to be given at appropriate intervals. Vaccination
against tuberculosis is also offered to all school-children at
about 13 years of age.
Routine dental inspections by the School Dental Officers
are carried out as frequently as the staffing situation allows
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