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specially qualified medical officer. During 1966. 214 such examinations were held
compared with 102 in 1965.
School Journey Medical Examinations
All schoolchildren in the Borough who are going on school journeys are medically
examined at least 96 hours before the date of departure in order to ascertain whether
they are physically fit to go away. During 1966, medical examinations by a medical
officer were arranged for 74 school journey parties and 46 parties were examined by a
school nurse These 46 parties were going to Inner London Education Authority Camps
where a school nurse is in attendance, and it was not felt necessary for a doctor to
examine them before leaving. The number of medical examinations by a medical officer
increased from 1,688 in 1965 to 1,919 in 1966.
Health Education
More requests were received in 1966 from head-teachers than previously for nursing
staff to give talks in schools on health subjects and mothercraft, and arrangements
were made on request from the school for girls to visit Welfare Centres and Day
Nurseries. Talks were also given on opportunities in nursing careers.
In addition, the Borough's Health Education Officer visited many schools, and the
range of topics covered in his sessions included smoking, sex education, drug
addiction, personal and human relationships, etc. A special course for school leavers
was arranged at one of the special schools at the request of the head teacher.
Sanitary Inspections
School medical officers arrange with head teachers to inspect periodically, the
sanitary accommodation, washing facilities, preparation of school meals, etc. and the
reports of these visits are supplied to the Medical Adviser and the Divisional
Education Officer. During 1966 inspections were made at 82 schools in the Borough.
Remedial Exercises
Remedial exercises were carried out by specially trained teachers in 13 junior
mixed schools and two secondary girls' schools in the Borough. One of the Council's
medical officers visited each of these schools at the beginning and end of each term,
to give advice and to ensure that the exercises were being performed correctly.
Audiology
Sessions were held weekly during the year and there was a total attendance of
596. In addition, the Otologist paid regular visits to Frank Barnes School for the
Deaf and to the Partially Hearing Unit which was opened at Hargrave Park School in
September.
A Social Worker (Health Services) continued to attend the weekly Children's
Hearing Clinic at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Many children from the Borough were seen
at this clinic and the co-operation of the hospital was of great value.
Vision Sessions for Schoolchildren
The 10 vision sessions aweek held at Moorfields Hospital for schoolchildren were
closed on 30th April 1966. Some of the children continued to attend the hospital
because of special defects in their sight or at their parents' request as ordinary
out-patients, others went to private ophthalmologists or opticians or to local
authority vision sessions nearer their homes, and others were transferred to a session
which was opened at the Pine Street Welfare Centre.
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