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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The year 1953 has been a successful one for the School Health
Service. The routine work has been carried out as in previous years
and progress can be reported in several branches.
A considerable increase is noted in the number of children receiving
a booster immunisation dose against diphtheria.
The dental services have expanded by completion of new accommodation
at Park Lane and Cornwall Road. Also a much needed
Child Guidance Centre has started work at Cornwall Road.
Progress envisaged during the coming year includes the establishment
of a Spastic Unit at Vale Road Day Special School for Physically
Handicapped Children, and the possible introduction of B.C.G.
Vaccination against Tuberculosis for thirteen-year-olds.
Routine Medical Inspection
The value of present day routine medical inspection depends on the
ability of doctor and parent to establish a relationship when they can
discuss the child in an atmosphere undisturbed emotionally by any
illness of the child. Ample time is most desirable and it may be true
to say that the value of a routine medical inspection is in inverse
proportion to the number of children seen at the session.
Discussion with parents and talks given to Parent-Teacher Associations
suggest that most parents are very satisfied with the physical
health of their children, but they are frequently worried by behaviour
problems. The proportion of a doctor's time needed to deal with these
problems is increasing and a knowledge of child psychology is of great
value to the school doctor.
Routine medical inspections carried out in this Area confirm that
the children are healthy. From time to time attempts are made to
assess children's health in statistical form. Statistics relating to child
health can be divided into two types, figures based on factual diagnosis
and figures based on the opinion of the examining medical officer.
The factual group of statistics include figures relating to visual defects,
squint, enlarged adenoids and measurement of intelligence. Such
statistics may be usefully recorded and compared from place to place
in differing periods of time. Statistics that are based on the opinion
of the examining doctor should be accepted with reserve when
recorded numerically unless a serious attempt has been made to
standardise the opinions of the examining doctors. Such statistics
include figures relating to enlargement of tonsils, flat feet, general
condition or deviations in behaviour. Statistics gained from this latter
source will show variations attributable more to the differing standards
of the doctors concerned than to any fundamental difference in the
children examined.
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