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105
The problems of obese children are dealt with in the clinics but
undernourished children are now a rarity.
At the end of the year 200 children were currently attending
these clinics.
Ear, Nose and Throat Clinics
An average of five clinics a month are held in four school
treatment centres and at the end of the year 142 children were
in attendance.
The specialists in the clinics are able to secure direct admission
for tonsillectomy at the South Western Hospital which reduces
waiting time for the operation. Admissions are arranged by social
workers in liaison with the family doctors.
Rheumatism Clinics
Acute rheumatism in children is declining and most affected
children are in hospital care. During the year 64 children attended
the two clinics in the Borough which are run in conjunction with
the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. Blood
tests are carried out either at the clinic or at hospital and the
social workers arrange any restriction of activity which may be
advised by the specialists.
School Nursing Service
The nursing duties in the School Health Service are undertaken
partly by health visitors and partly by school nursing sisters and
school nurses. As far as possible health visitors undertake duties
in the primary schools in their own areas. Shortage of staff has
made it essential for many health visitors to be relieved of routine
school work, but they do maintain close contact with the schools.
During the year we took part in a survey of heights and weights
of London school-children being undertaken by Dr. J. M. Tanner
of the Institute of Child Health. The very precise weighing and
measuring for this survey was undertaken by two school nurses
who were specially briefed for the work, and altogether some 3,000
children were included.
One school nurse accompanied a party of school children from
Chartfield School who spent two weeks in the Isle of Wight, while
another school nurse spent two weeks in Swanage with a party of
children from Springfield House School. Both these schools are for
delicate children where the presence of a nurse can be of great
help to any of the children suffering from ailments, major or
minor.