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79
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE IN KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
Annual Report by Dr. J.H. Weir,
Borough Medical Officer of Health and
Principal School Medical Officer
The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for the school
health service but, by virtue of an agreement required by Section 32 of the
London Government Act, 1963, there is joint use by the Authority and the
Council of professional staff, premises and equipment. The Medical Officer
of Health is the principal school medical officer of the Inner London
Education Authority for the area of the borough, and is responsible to that
Authority for the day-to-day running of the service.
The following is a summary of the work of the school health service
in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea during the year ended 31st
December, 1968. Where relevant, comparable figures relating to the
previous year are shown in brackets.
Thirty primary schools provided accommodation for 9, 536 (10,158)
children; 7,520 (7,008) pupils of secondary school age attended eleven
secondary schools; 173 (172) children of nursery school age were catered
for, and spastics of infant age were cared for by the Cheyne Hospital
School.
ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTIONS.
Conditions governing the medical examination of all schoolchildren
remain the same as in previous years. Children are examined on entry to
the infant school at about five years of age, on entry to the primary
school at about eight, on entry to secondary school at eleven-plus, and
finally during the term immediately preceding the end of their school
life.
During the year, 6,609 (7,000) children were examined in 778 (777)
sessions. Defects totalling 2,554, or 38.64% (2,912 or 41.6%) were
noted for treatment and observation, and 822 in 735 children, or 11.12%,
(895 or 12.8%) were actually referred for treatment. The parents of
50.9% (51.8%) of the children exercised their right to be present at the
examination of their children. This relatively low number seems to
indicate that there are still many parents who fail to realise the
benefits that may occur from their presence.
Care Committee representatives were present at 81.2% (80.9%) of the
examinations held.
SPECIAL MEDICAL INSPECTIONS.
At any time during school life, a child exhibiting hitherto
unnoticed physical or mental abnormalities may be specially examined at
the request of teachers, parents or other interested parties. Defects
discovered at routine medical inspection may also result in special
medical examinations of the children concerned.
During the year, children thought to be in need of education in
special schools were referred from various sources and included 83 (89)
for the statutory ESN examination. A total of 89 (92) statutory
examinations was carried out resulting in 45 (49) recommendations for