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who were going on school journeys were examined at least 96 hours before the date of departure
in order to ascertain whether they were physically fit to go away; but the 31 parties seen
by the school nurses only were going to Inner London Education Authority camps where a school
nurse was in attendance. The number of medical examinations by a medical officer increased
from 1,919 in 1966 to 2,014 in 1967.
Transfer of Medical Records
Headteachers were asked to supply school nurses with a list of any new entrants at the
beginning of each term (or whenever possible at least at the end of the previous term) so
that arrangements might be made to transfer child welfare records to the school before the
child's first medical examination.
Survey of Heights and Weights
The follow-up of the heights and weights survey which commenced in 1966 was carried out
in 4 secondary schools and 2 primary schools in the Borough. This survey of London schoolchildren,
which includes children in schools in this Borough, was the latest in a survey which
began in 1904-5 and which has provided unique large-scale information on the changing standards
of children's physique. The reports on the survey have achieved a world-wide reputation and
are regarded as authoritative standards on the subject. The Department of Education and
Science, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Ministry of Health have all
taken a keen interest both in the planning of the surveys and in the results. The follow-up
is a new feature of the surveys provided by Dr. Tanner as a guide to rate of growth. This
follow-up may produce information never previously available on such a reliably large scale,
and may make a unique contribution to medical knowledge.
Audiology
6,562 sweep tests and 771 pure tone tests were carried out by school nurses on children
in schools in the Borough. Of these, 335 found to have defective hearing were referred for
further investigation. 244 attended the audiology sessions held during the year. There was
a total attendance of 511 at the 40 sessions.
In addition, the otologist paid regular visits to Frank Barnes School for the Deaf and to
the Partially Hearing Unit at Hargrave Park School.
Special Investigation Clinics
School children who were enuretic, obese or a minority suffering from poor nutrition were
referred to one of the special investigation clinics. At the beginning of the year, sessions
were being held at 6 different centres in the Borough; but from 31st October 1967, the weekly
session at East Islington Welfare Centre was decreased to a fortnightly session, and a fortnightly
session commenced at Leage Street Welfare Centre on 7th November 1967. 85 children
were discharged during the year compared with 80 in 1966 and total attendances increased from
1,972 in 1966 to 2,031 in 1967.
Mr. Turner, non-medical assistant psychologist from the Maudesley Research Unit, attended
one of the special investigation clinics every week until March 1967. He carried out intelligence
and psychological tests on the enuretic children as further research following the paper
published by him and Dr. Young entitled "CNS Stimulant Drugs and Conditioning Treatment of
Nocturnal Enuresis (1965)".
Physiotherapy
The last physiotherapy session for schoolchildren at Finsbury Health Centre was held on
29th August 1967. After that time children needing foot exercises were referred to their