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The transfer of the former poor-law hospitals, infirmaries, convalescent homes
and other institutions to the Council, and the appropriation of many of these under
the Local Government Act, 1929, has greatly enlarged the facilities for dealing with
ailing school children; and a system, which has been established of notification
from the hospitals to the school medical officer of the treatment and discharge of
child patients, has given fuller opportunities for perfecting that care of the child
population which is the duty of the school medical service. Amongst the major
benefits which have been obtained from this great reform may be mentioned the
greatly extended provision of beds for children suffering from rheumatism, the
availability of convalescent provision for school children generally, and the aid
given by the general hospitals in dealing with throat operations by which the
formerly increasing arrears have been completely overtaken. Still another benefit is
the notification from the fever hospitals of children suffering from discharging
ears. This renders supervision more thorough and often leads to the prevention
of recurrence, or even of eventual deafness.
Contact is maintained between the Council's care committee or social service
system and all the voluntary agencies in London, including the great number of
voluntary hospitals, general and special, with which the county abounds. In a
large and increasing number of instances there is very close co-operation so that
these agencies work, not in isolation, but as part of a comprehensive unity of children's
care. Some of these arrangements are referred to in a later section of this report.
School hygiene.
Continued progress has been made with the Council's programme in connection
with the "40 and 48" scheme, which is now almost complete. In December, 1933,
98.1 per cent. of classrooms were on the "40 and 48" basis as compared with 97.7
per cent. in March, 1933, and 57 per cent. in April, 1924. Ninety-five per cent. of
school departments are now entirely upon the "40 and 48" basis.
The reorganisation of schools in connection with the Hadow plan, which has
been in flood tide, and the reduction in the numbers of younger children, have given
many opportunities of effecting improvements.
The Council has considered the results of experiments carried out at seven
schools, of providing linoleum, with cork sheet underline, on concrete in lieu of boarding
for the floors of babies' rooms. The experiments have proved satisfactory,
and, as there is no material difference in cost, it has been decided that this type of
flooring to babies' rooms shall be provided in new schools.
Trough closet
replacements.
Many of the older schools still possess antiquated sanitary conveniences. These
are being gradually dealt with and provision is being made for the replacement of
trough closets by pedestal pans at six schools during the summer holidays, 1934.
Three of these schools have senior girls' departments, one has elder children in
its girls' department, and the remainder are in populous districts.
Medical
inspection
rooms.
Considerable progress has been made in the task of providing schools with
medical inspection rooms. The occurence of empty class rooms due to the fall in
the younger child population has made this increasingly possible.
The provision made for medical inspection came up for review as the result
of a motion in the Council and I was instructed to report: (i) whether the equipment
provided in medical inspection rooms is adequate, (ii) whether the time allowed for
the medical inspection of the children is sufficient, and (iii) whether the inspections
are sufficiently frequent.
In the earlier days of medical inspection no provision was made for special
rooms adapted to medical inspection. This was carried out as best could be
arranged in unused classrooms, classrooms cleared for the occasion, screened-off
portions of school halls, teachers' rooms voluntarily surrendered for the occasion
and sometimes in corridors. In some voluntary schools, no space could be provided
and a neighbouring church hall or other room was engaged.
Article 7 of the Code provides that the authority must have reasonable
facilities for medical inspection, and Circular 792 (1911) requires that in