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MEDICAL AND DENTAL TREATMENT
Nurses treated school children for verrucae, athlete's foot, eye, ear and skin diseases as well as bruises,
lacerations etc. at minor ailments clinics. During 1972 there were 357 nursing services at which 608 new
cases were seen; medical officers attended 68 sessions and saw 36 new cases. Total attendances during the
year were 5,085 (4,752).
School children found at dental or medical inspections to need dental treatment were given appointments
to attend one of four dental clinics in the Borough unless their parents expressed a wish for them to
be seen by their private dentists. 2,668.4 (2,655) dental treatment sessions were held at which 5,076
(4,589) new cases attended and total attendances were 13,646 (13,798).
BATHING CENTRES
Parents of children found by school nurses at comprehensive or selective medical examinations to
have vermin and nits were given a special shampoo and instructions as to how to cleanse their child's head
at home. If, however, this was not successful the children were referred to the Council's bathing centre for
cleansing, as were any children found verminous at recuperative holiday or school journey pre-departure
examinations.
There was a total of 437 (252) attendances for this purpose during 1972.
Children found to be suffering from scabies were also sent to the bathing centre for cleansing during
1972 and total attendances for this purpose were 228 (218).
WCLFSON CENT RE
A senior medical officer of the department continued to attend the Wolfson Centre on Friday mornings
when Islington children were being assessed and when some specific language assessments were
carried out.
TRANSPORT OF CHILDREN TO ORDINARY SCHOOLS
If a child suffered an accident or illness which resulted in a temporary disability which prevented him
or her travelling to school in the normal way, the school medical officer was sometimes asked to decide
whether special transport should be provided. Careful enquiries were made to ensure that the transport was
justified and that the child would be able to work satisfactorily when he eventually reached school. A
child with a leg plaster, for example, might have great difficulty in negotiating several flights of stairs in
order to attend various classes during the course of the day. School medical officers recommended that
special transport should be provided for 21 such children.
HOME TUITION
Home tuition was recommended for 11 (10) children who were unable to get to school even if
transport were provided and would be absent for a considerable time.
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