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122
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
Report of the Principal School Medical Officer for the Year 1968
The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for the school health
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 Council
of professional staff premises and equipment. The Medical Officer of Health is
the Principal School Medical Officer of the Inner London Education Authority for
the area and responsible to that Authority for the day-to-day running of the
service.
The general health of school-children in Lambeth is good. In the great
majority of families diet and clothing is of a very adequate standard, and parents
are co-operative in obtaining the treatment recommended by the School Medical
Officers. The number of new cases referred to special investigation clinics for
bed wetting, obesity, minor behaviour difficulties and dysmenorrhoea shows a
slight decrease from 228 in 1967 to 208 in 1968, and the same downward trend is
more marked in rheumatism, orthopaedics, and minor ailments. The sole figure
showing any increase is in audiology from 139 in 1967 to 140 in 1968. Physical
condition is in fact very satisfactory, but unfortunately waiting lists for Child
Guidance are becoming longer. This increase is largely due to the difficulties
of those immigrant children whose parents precede them to this country, where
they have two or three more children before they can afford to bring over eight to
twelve year olds who have almost forgotten them, have never seen their younger
brothers and sisters, and who suddenly have to adapt not only to a different
culture and climate but also to busy parents, both of whom are often at work,
instead of a leisurely indulgent grandmother.
Arrangements continued with the London Boroughs of Southwark and
Wandsworth for the treatment of verminous children and in addition bathing
facilities were provided at the Elizabeth Bullock School Treatment Centre. This
has helped to reduce travelling inconveniences and attendance difficulties and
provides a service operated directly by the Borough.
SCHOOL MEDICAL INSPECTION
All pupils are medically examined as a routine four times during their school
life, but numerous other examinations for special purposes are carried out. In
addition, each child is inspected annually by a school nurse, and may also be
seen on other occasions by the nurse.
During the year medical officers undertook 16,264 routine examinations,
4,593 special examinations and 6,519 re-inspections.