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ANNUAL REPORT ON SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
National Child Development Study - As agreed with the Inner London Education Authority,
arrangements were made for assistance to be given to Dr. Butler and Dr. Ball in their
National Child Development Study. The purpose of this Study is, in brief, to determine
the present physical, sociological and educational status of children who are survivors
of the 1958 Perinatal Mortality Survey and to relate the findings to the existing birth
data.
The homes of the 59 children concerned who attended schools in this Borough were
visited by a Health Visitor and, where the parents' consent was obtained, a Parental
Questionnaire was filled in. Medical Questionnaires (involving an examination by a
School Medical Officer and a urine test for protein and glucose) are also being
completed.
Special Investigation Clinic - An additional weekly special investigation clinic was
opened at East Islington Welfare Centre on 6th July, 1965. One of the Senior Medical
Officers took this clinic and an Assistant Psychologist from Maudesly Research Unit
attends every week for research purposes. He undertakes intelligence and psychological
tests on the eneuretic children and brings eneuretic alarm sets which he has loaned
out as requested by the medical officer. There were 88 attendances at the 20 sessions.
held in 1965 and two eneuretic children were discharged cured. (It will be appreciated
that children are rarely discharged cured before approximately 6 months* attendance).
The special investigation clinic at Barnsbury Welfare Centre which was taken over
by the same Senior Medical Officer on 7th May, 1965 was successful there being 18
eneuretic children discharged cured.
The five other special investigation clinics continued throughout the year, there
being a total of 97 discharges.
Audiology - A closer watch was kept on those children who had any hearing loss and this
has resulted in a increase in the number of children tested and found to have a hearing
defect.
It was necessary to increase the otologist's sessions from one to four each month.
Tuberculosis incident - As a result of the notification in 1964 of a teacher at an
Islington school found to be suffering from tuberculosis, the follow-up of contacts in
the whole school carried on into early 1965.
226 children were skin-tested and 40 children X-rayed. Two children were found
to be suffering from tuberculosis and received treatment.
There were 20 adult contacts, 9 of whom were examined and found normal. The remaining
11 had left the school and were referred to the Medical Adviser's Department.
B.C.G. Vaccination - During 1965, 2,264 school children were Mantoux skin tested at
32 schools. 2,011 of these were vaccinated with B. C. G., 80 were X-rayed and 43 were
found to need treatment.
Special Schools - There are six special schools in Islington and a seventh (Horizon
School for Educationally Sub-Normal Children) which is just outside the Borough
boundary, remained under the Education Officer, Division 3 and as agreed by the Medical
Adviser, the Principal School Medical Officer of Islington is responsible for School
Health in this school. Of these, three are for educationally sub-normal children
where, in addition to the normal routine medical examinations, a specially trained
medical officer reviewed their progress every year.
One is a school for physically handicapped children where the Cardiologist and
Rheumatism Consultant to the Inner London Education Authority and the Authority's
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