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60
Visual defects
Two ophthalmic sessions are held weekly, one in Inner London Education Authority premises in
the south of the City and the other at the Western Ophthalmic Hospital, Marylebone Road, N.W.1,
where clerical assistance is provided by staff from the Health Department.
Diathermy
The diathermy clinics for the treatment of plantar warts held twice a week continue to be well
attended.
Special investigation clinics
Children who require a longer time and more privacy than is available at school medical examinations
are referred to special investigation clinics where a social worker attends with a doctor.
Immunisation
Parents are encouraged to take their children to welfare centres for immunisation before school
entry. During school life every effort is made to persuade parents to allow their children to complete
the immunisation programme as laid down by the Department of Health. A measles campaign was
launched in September 1970 to encourage vaccination against measles of children in the infant
schools who had not already been protected.
Rubella
In September 1970 Rubella vaccination was offered to all thirteen year old girls in the eleven
secondary schools in Westminster. By December sessions had been held in 5 secondary schools
and a total of 325 girls had rubella vaccination. In addition some pupils requested that the vaccination
should be given by their own general practitioners. It is anticipated that the sessions at the remainder
of the schools will be completed during the following term. It is also hoped to extend the scheme
to include girls of 11 years upwards.
BCG Vaccination
BCG vaccination in schools continues. In addition special programmes are arranged in Colleges
for Further Education with X-ray facilities provided by the Mobile Units of the London Mass X-ray
service.
Statistics relating to the School Health Service are set out in Tables 50-57 inclusive, on pages
89-95 inclusive.
DENTAL SERVICE
D. K. Hardy, L.D.S., R.C.S., Eng.
(Chief Dental Officer and Principal School Dental Officer)
It is very encouraging to report that for 1970 the City Council's Dental Service has provided an
increasing number of first inspections of children in both the School and Maternal and Child Welfare
Services. The increase is most marked in the latter service where more than twice the number were
examined, namely 556, than in 1969; the sessions allotted increased by 30%. The service offered to
the under five year old is a very important and worthwhile one since, if the mother comes with her
first child, it might be possible to guide her thoughts towards better dental health for her subsequent
children as she has probably only brought her child in with toothache—a first meeting under duress
with a dentist. The number of under fives attending who require treatment is approximately 70%.
The City's School Dental Service was able to inspect 60% of the school population, an increase
of approximately 7%, but the percentage requiring treatment remains about the same as in 1969
at 63%.
These inspection figures are influenced by staff shortages particularly among the dental surgery
assistant posts. Although there have been some increases the salary scales for these posts are
unrealistic for the responsibilities and qualities required of a dental surgery assistant. There were two
posts vacant for most of the year and, as dental officers are advised by the Defence Societies not to
work unaided, it was necessary to employ agency staff at greater expense to the Authority. This is a
serious problem, as to meet the requirements of an annual inspection of every school child, the
service must be expanded to some extent. This will happen in 1971 since plans are going ahead to
open a dental surgery within the Quintin Kynaston School. With this opening another dental surgery
assistant will have to be recruited if the capital spent on the equipment is to be utilised to the fullest
amount.