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to manage children who, later in their school lives, will definitely
require education from specially trained teachers. The provision of
a day nursery would relieve pressure on the local nursery schools.
Special Techniques in Examination
No new special techniques are being explored or used in
examinations at present but, as a matter of interest, in the case of
colour vision all boys of 11-12 years had their colour vision tested
by selected Ishihari charts at their routine examination. If there
was any doubt at this test, the child was referred to the County
Hall for special testing with the Edridge Green lantern.
During the year efforts were continued to increase co-operation
between the social workers, local family doctors and hospitals. Due
to the increasing shortage of hospital Medical Social Workers, a
number of requests were received from consultants, either for
reports on home background or for assistance in providing the
environment to suit the medical and social needs of particular
patients.
It is fortunate that no racial or language problems are known
in the School Health Service in Greenwich. Although there were
no staffing shortages in the School Health Service, there was
unfortunately a considerable turnover in school nursing staff. This
would appear to be the future pattern in this service.
The work of the local Care Committee must be given special
mention. In association with social workers in the education and
health field who supervise their training and deployment, these
voluntary workers undertake the most arduous duties in connection
with home visiting and medical after care, and it is a matter of
satisfaction that this Committee provides such a good service in
connection with the social problems of schoolchildren and their
families.
I should also express my gratitude to the Divisional Education
Officer, Mr. W. A. Pattison, his Deputy, Mr. C. L. Curtis, and
their staff for the help they have given and for the forbearance they
have shown. It must have been a most trying experience for them
to adjust to a new organisation. The head teachers and staff of the
local schools have similarly shown great sympathy and friendship,
and I trust that their many enquiries and difficulties have always
been given a sympathetic ear.
In conclusion, I should like to thank my own staff, and in
particular my Deputy, Dr. M. E. Watts, on whose shoulders the
daily burden of problems has descended, for their loyalty and
devotion to the interests of the Service and to the Department.
John Kerr Brown,
Principal School Medical Officer.