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VII. REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER
ON THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
As is shown in the statistics for the year, routine work of the school health service
continued on an even course. In previous years attention has been drawn to the incidence of
scabies - this showed a decrease for 1968 compared with 1967. Vigilance on the part of staff
at school inspections, treatment centres and the bathing centre has doubtless been a factor in
this reduction. However, as the results of both routine and special inspections show, the
division has a high incidence of head infestations. The top of the league is not an enviable
position in this respect. Whether the higher yield compared with other divisions is a result
of better diagnostic acumen by our school nursing staff as a result of hard won experience, or
more detailed reporting, nevertheless there is no room for complacency. Slum clearance and
redevelopment will provide a better environment but unless the children and parents are
motivated towards hygiene standards in a personal acceptance of responsibility what is gained
on the one side may be lost on the other. Here lies an opportunity for health education in its
widest sense for this and other similar problems affecting the public and private health.
Programmes of health education in schools have expanded during the year. In addition to
the Authority's workers, the borough's health education team now numbering three officers has
undertaken a major part of the work in the schools. The school dental service has also increased
its work in dental health education.
It is a pleasure to thank the Medical Adviser, and his central staff for ready help
throughout the year- Our links with Mr. Peirce, Divisional EducationOfficer and his staff
locally remain strong and cordial I would also thank my deputy Dr. C. Gourlay particularly
for her endeavours in the school health section which is largely run under her day to day
direction.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ROLLS
Pupils on school rolls numbered 33,020 at the end of the year, attending 101 maintained
schools in the borough which include three schools for the educationally subnormal, two for the
maladjusted, one for delicate children, and one for the physically handicapped. There are no
direct grant or independent schools included in the School Health Service. At the end of the
year the school registers were as follows:-
Type of School No. of Schools Pupils
Primary 68 19,291
Secondary 21 12,331
Nursery 5 509
Special 7 889
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLCHILDREN
Routine medical examinations
These are carried out by medical officers of the department assisted by school nurses.
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