View report page

65
VI REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER
ON THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The Inner London Education Authority is respons ible for the School Heal th Service ,
but by virtue of an agreement required by Section 32 of the London Government Act,
1963, there is joint use by the Authority and the Council of professional staff,
premises and equipment. The Medical Officer of Health is the Principal School
Medical Officer of the Inner London Education Authority for the area of the borough
and is responsible to that Authority for the day to day running of the Service.
As in previous years, close liaison with the Medical Adviser and his central
staff has maintained an effective service. At local divisional level, Mr. Peirce
and his staff have been ever willing to continue good working relationships.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ROLLS
Pupils on school rolls numbered 31,112 at the end of the year, attending 102
maintained schools in the borough which include four 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. The registers were as follows:-
Type of School No. of Schools Pupils
Primary 67 18,268
Secondary 21 11,163
Nursery 6 730
Special 8 951
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLCHILDREN
Routine medical examinations
These are carried out by medical officers of the department assisted by school
nurses. Where further examinations are found to be required children are referred
to special clinics, e.g., vision, hearing, dental, special investigation clinics etc.
Non-routine medical examinations
These examinations are carried out for various reasons e.g. prior to departure
on school journeys; for ascertainment of suitability for ordinary school and at the
request of the head teacher, school nurse, parent or medical officer.
Clinical trials were carried out in the area last year by the Department of
Entomology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, in conjunction with the
staff of this department, in which the insecticide Malathion was used on the heads
of infested children. The results of the trials were decisive in that no live lice
remained on the head after 24 hours. Subsequently the Medical Adviser of the Inner