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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for this 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
Borough of professional staff, premises and equipment. The Director of Public Health is the Principal School
Medical Officer of the Inner London Education Authority for the area and is responsible to that Authority
for the day to day running of the service.
The continued co-operation of the Medical Adviser's department of the Inner London Education
Authority, the local Divisional Education Officer and Head Teachers of the schools in the Borough has been
much appreciated throughout the year.
A meeting was held in April 1971 with representatives of the Head Teachers Consultative Committee
initially to discuss the best way of achieving a high rate of immunisation amongst young children. This
proved useful and it was decided to hold bi-annual meetings so that various matters relating to the school
health service could be discussed.
At a second meeting in November it was agreed that a joint Working Party be set up to produce a
comprehensive syllabus on health education covering the entire school life of a child. It is envisaged that
teachers could make use of the syllabus either in whole or in part, and that it would include appropriate
reference to visual aids, tapes and other material which would be made available, together with lists of
expert speakers on specialised subjects.
HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
In May 1971 the school roll for the Borough decreased from 34,196 to 33,449. 41.8% of these children
were examined at routine medical inspections during the year and only 0.4% were thought to be in an unsatisfactory
physical condition.
ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
As a routine, all pupils in nursery schools and nursery classes were medically inspected on admission
and annually thereafter. School nurses visited weekly, but made more frequent visits in emergencies.
Other children were medically examined as soon as possible after admission to infants' schools (except
at two schools where pre-entry medical examinations were held).
They were next seen after their transfer to junior school except at eight schools in the Borough where
only selected pupils were seen.
The next routine medical examination took place after the pupils were transferred to secondary school
when boys were also tested for colour vision.
Pupils were again seen as early as possible in the term before the one by the end of which they would
reach statutory school leaving age. Medical reports for the Careers Service were completed at this examination
for pupils leaving school at 15 years of age.
Pupils still in attendance after reaching 15 were inspected as early as possible in the term prior to that
in which they would be leaving school, when a medical report for the Careers Service was completed.
Special School pupils were also seen at least once a year by the school doctor, specialist or consultant,
as appropriate.
PRE-ENTRY MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
Pre-entry medical examinations continued to be held at two primary schools in the Borough. These
have proved successful, but have not yet been extended to any other schools in the Borough. This pre school
medical examination is not, of course, regarded as a condition of entry to the schools concerned, but a
higher than average percentage of mothers attend, and thus better histories and other necessary details about
the children to be admitted are more easily obtained.
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