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45
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 during the year ended 31st December, 1970. Where relevant,
comparable figures relating to the previous year are shown in
brackets.
At September 1970 there were 9,44l (9,677) pupils attending
thirty primary schools and 6,155 (7,5l6) pupils attending 8 (11)
secondary schools. In addition, 164 (160) children attended
nursery schools and a number of spastic children 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 infant school at about five years of age, on
entry to primary school at about eight, on entry to secondary
school at eleven-pluso and finally during the term immediately
preceding the end of their school life.
During the year 7,046 (7,38l) children were examined in
708 (771) sessions. The total number of defects found was 2,706,
representing an incidence of 38$ of the number of inspections.
Of these defects 1,205 (or 17%) were noted for treatment. Vision
defects comprised 1,024 of the total of which 55^ were noted for
treatment.
SPECIAL MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
A child exhibiting hitherto unnoticed physical or mental
abnormalities may be specially examined at the request of teachers,
parents or other interested parties at any time during school life.
Defects discovered at routine medical inspection may also result in
special medical examinations.
During the year children thought to be in need of education in
special schools were referred from various sources and a total of
49 (95) statutory examinations were carried out. Referrals included
40 (67) for the statutory E.S.N. examination which resulted in 14
(33) recommendations for education at schools for the educationally
sub-normal. The remainder included 9 (15) recommendations for open
air schools.
Other examinations included 190 (288) secondary school pupils
seeking employment and 1,005 (876) wishing to go on school journeys.