View report page

SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for this service, but by virtue of an agreement
made under 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.
Owing to the increasing amount of work in schools, two additional school nurses were appointed.
More nurses took part in health education to small groups of school children at the request of Head
Teachers.
During the year a pilot scheme was carried out to test for tuberculosis in all children aged 5 years in
their second term at school. Only 50% of the children eligible were actually tested owing to absence or
lack of parental consent. Very few children were found to have positive results, and these were referred to
the chest clinic for screening. No new cases of tuberculosis were discovered from this exercise and in view of
the small result in relation to the substantial allocation of staff time which the study required it was decided
not to introduce the procedure as a routine.
HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
In May 1972 the school roll for the Borough was 32,902 having decreased from 33,449 for the previous
year. Routine medical inspections were carried out during the year on 38.9% (41.8%) of the children, and
of those inspected 0.1% (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 seven 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, and medical reports for the Careers Service completed.
Pupils continuing schooling after reaching the statutory school leaving age were inspected as early as
possible in the term prior to that in which they would be leaving school and their medical reports for the
Careers Service completed.
Special school pupils were also seen at least once a year by the school doctor, specialist or consultant,
as appropriate.
81