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One of the commonest medical problems in the service is the obese child, both
sexes being affected equally. The peak of incidence coincides with the pre-pubertal
stage of development and seems to be found mainly in the lower streams of secondary
schools. Considerable effort is needed to persuade parents that excess weight is
related to faulty dietary habits and excess food intake. This subject merits continuous
effort in the field of health education.
Handicapped pupils.
A register of handicapped children is being prepared. The criteria of handicap are
clearly defined, with the exception of socio-medical factors which are responsible for a
few cases on the register, conditions are connected with physical or mental illness
requiring constant attention or specialist care. A considerable proportion of children
with serious defects are now integrated successfully into ordinary schools. Safeguarding
the interests of handicapped school children is one of the most important
tasks of the School Health Service.
Health Education
Health education in schools is undertaken by school doctors, health visitors
school nurses and members of the health education section. While the latter tend to
address an entire school, health visitors and school nurses as well as school doctors
carry out health education informally, addressing individuals or groups of pupils.
School Health Service—Joint Scheme
An agreement, probably to be confirmed in the following terms between the Inner
London Education Authority and the London Borough of Lewisham, provides the
basis upon which the school health service is now run.
"A joint scheme under Section 32 of the London Government Act, 1963 is to be
agreed between the Inner London Education Authority and the London Borough of
Lewisham, whereby, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for Education
and Science and the Minister of Health, provision will be made for the joint use of the
professional services, premises and equipment for the health services, provided by the
Inner London Education Authority. The Medical Officer of Health for the Borough
of Lewisham will be appointed by the Inner London Education Authority as its
principal school medical officer to exercise local responsibility for the administration
of the school health service, with a view to the co-ordination and integration of this
service with the other health services in the Borough. Regular consultation between
the Principal School Medical Officer and the Inner London Education Authority
will be maintained through the medium of the Authority's central Medical Adviser,
with a view to ensuring common standards and practices so far as necessary in the
school health service throughout the Authority's area in London."
The statistics quoted in this section have been supplied by the Inner London
Education Authority and are based on a school roll of 40,532 as at 20th January 1966.
For comparative purposes, wherever possible, figures are also shown for the whole
of the area covered by the Inner London Education Authority, based on a total
school roll of 409,664 at the same date.
School Medical Inspections.
The figures provide an analysis of routine and non-routine medical inspections
with, for routine inspections, the percentage attendance of parents and care committee
representatives, the overall figures for prophylaxis, the proportion of children
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