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128
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
Report of the Principal School Medical Officer for the year 1970
The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for the School Health
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
Council of professional staff, premises, and equipment. The Director of Health
Services 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.
Medical treatment of school children
Arrangements for the provision of certain specialist clinics in conjunction
with Regional Hospital Boards and Boards of Governors of Teaching Hospitals
continued, some clinics being held in hospitals, and some in school treatment
centres for which specialist staff were provided by the hospital. Most of the
clinics in hospitals are attended by school health service social workers who act
as liaison officers between hospitals, school medical officers and the I.L.E.A.
Education Welfare Service.
Special investigation clinics also attended by school health social workers
to which children suffering from obesity, enuresis and similar conditions may be
referred, are held in a number of school treatment centres. Many of the referrals
are for enuresis much of which proves on investigation to be caused by emotional
and relationship difficulties at home. During the past year school health social
workers have been visiting the families of the more acute cases, maintaining close
liaison with the Education Welfare Social Workers.
The health and material well-being of Lambeth school children have
generally continued to improve, but referrals to child guidance centres have
increased.
Since September school health social workers have extended their activities
to attachment to special schools, of which there are a considerable number in
Lambeth. For the past term they have worked in close liaison with the Education
Welfare Social Workers in 5 special schools (2 day open air, 1 for severely
handicapped, 1 for partially sighted and 1 for the deaf) and at 2 special units
(1 deaf/blind and 1 autistic unit)
School Medical Inspection
There are 47,473 children on the school roll in the Borough. There are 116
schools of which 10 are special schools =