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sensible arrangement since it means the full integration of the
school health service, the maternity and child welfare service and
the other personal health services of the Corporation.
During the year, the arrangements have worked satisfactorily
and some account of the work is contained in the following paragraphs
covering both the medical and the dental parts of the
scheme.
So far as the dental health side is concerned, it had not, at the
end of the year, been possible to appoint a Principal School Dental
Officer but I was able to make arrangements for advice on dental
matters to be available through the Senior Dental Officers of the
Inner London Education Authority and for this help and advice,
I am very grateful.
Pupils on school rolls
In January, 1966, there was a total of 45,449 pupils on the day
school roll. The pupils attended a total of 129 school departments,
including two schools for delicate children, three schools for the
educationally subnormal, three schools concerned respectively with
physically handicapped, blind and deaf children, and a school and
four day classes for the maladjusted.
Medical Inspection of Schoolchildren
Routine medical examinations of the pupils are carried out by
the Department's medical officers and the child's general practitioner
is consulted when any defect in health is detected. Clinic
facilities are available for further examinations of the eyes, ear,
nose and throat, dental and special investigation, and treatment for
minor ailments is also provided, but attendances at the last-named
clinics have fallen during recent years.
Educationally subnormal children are examined regularly in
order to ascertain the nature and extent of their disability, the
examinations being made by specially approved medical officers.
The health visitors and school nurses play an important part in
making arrangements for health inspections, and, in addition, carry
out hygiene inspections at selected schools. Special arrangements
are made to reinspect children with defects discovered at routine
medical inspections ; these examinations take place either at school
or at neighbouring clinics.
At four primary schools, a special form of medical examination,
known as a selective medical examination, was undertaken. A good
deal of attention has been paid to this type of examination as an
alternative to the traditional method. Under the selective method,
parents are asked to complete a detailed questionnaire on the
child's health in the past and close liaison is also maintained with
the teachers who, being in close daily touch with the children, are
often able to give a valuable opinion on the health and well-being
of their pupils.