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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
Routine Medical Inspections
Three times in the child's career the routine medical inspection brings
together child, parent, teacher, nurse and doctor and the routine medical
examination achieves best results when first, the child is seen by the
nurse; second, the doctor interviews the head teacher, and finds out
if the head teacher from his or her day to day observation of the child
suspects-any deviation from normal health.
The doctor, having the nurse's report, then interviews parent and
child, questions are invited and problems relating to health explored,
the child is examined and if a defect is discovered the parent is advised.
However, in most cases the doctor and parent agree that the child is
healthy, sometimes the mother needs to be re-assured that her anxieties
are unfounded.
The mother is advised to accept the first year of school life as a period
when upper respiratory tract infections are common and to accept
that the apparent thinness of the junior school child (ages 8, 9 and 10)
is compatible with good health.
When the routine medical inspection is completed the doctor reports
relevant findings to the head teacher and makes any necessary arrangements
for the disposal, treatment or follow-up observation of defects
found.
Dental Service
During 1952 the dental staff was increased to seven full-time dental
surgeons so that all dental surgeries were fully staffed. It is hoped that
during 1953 two additional dental clinics may be set up and staffed
so as to allow a complete school dental and priority dental service for
expectant and nursing mothers and children under school age to be
maintained.
The scheme for evening dental sessions which commenced on the
1st January, 1952, enabled a total of 136 additional treatment sessions
to be held at which 890 attendances: were made. This contribution
was equivalent to another full-time dental surgeon being employed for
three months during the year.
Tottenham Day Special School for the Deaf
The nursery block was completed during the year and eleven deaf
children of nursery school age are now being accommodated.
Vale Road Day Special School for Physically Handicapped Children
Spastic Unit
The formation of the spastic unit at Vale Road Special School for
Physically Handicapped Children, by building additional classrooms,
has not yet materialised owing to unforseen building difficulties. It is
hoped that a start will soon be made on the building work so that the
unit may come into full operation.
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