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The nurse undertakes the clerical work within her sphere, the care committee
representative relieves the officers of a great amount of clerical work which otherwise
would have to be done, and the teacher contributes also some definite help.
The results of medical inspection in 1933.
The number of. elementary school children examined in the three statutory
age groups (entrants, children aged 8 and children aged 12) during the year 193S
was 161,994. In addition, 56,660 children were examined in detail in the term prior
to that in which they were due to leave school, and 1,553 children in special schools
were examined on reaching their respective age groups.
Children referred by nurses, school teachers, care committee workers, divisional
officers, etc., for examination for special reasons numbered 85,360; and 71,600
were examined in connection with outbreaks of infectious disease.
The total inspections amounted to 377,167, which represents a slight increase
on the numbers in the previous year, namely 376,620. To this must be added the
children 165,048 in number, who were re-inspected because of some previously noted
defect.
Parents are invited to be present at all routine inspections, and attended in
74.1 per cent. of the examinations in the three statutory age groups compared with
68.5 per cent. in 1932. At the inspection of entrants, the proportion was 90.6 per
cent., and in the "leaver" group 57 per cent. It is most satisfactory to be able to
note a very distinct advance in the interest of the parents in the inspections. The
presence of the parent has a very considerable effect, and relieves very greatly the
task of following-up, as it eliminates the necessity for home visiting and
correspondence.
Refusals.
Refusals of parents to submit children for medical inspection are so few in
number as to be almost negligible. During the year 1933, the parents of 89 children
(29 boys, 60 girls), compared with 113 in 1932, refused to allow them to be examined
by one of the Council's assistant medical officers. Fourteen objections were
subsequently withdrawn, and in 12 instances either medical record cards were completed
by a private medical practitioner or medical certificates as to physical fitness
were produced. The cases were distributed amongst the divisions as follows: N., 2;
N.E., 13; N.W., 21; S.E. 20; S.W., 33.
The number of children subjected to routine inspection who were referred for
treatment was 87,184, 39.9 per cent. of the number examined. This figure includes
cases noted by the school doctors for dental treatment, and, if these cases be excluded,
the percentage is reduced to 16.3, compared with 17.5 in the previous year. This
quite considerable drop shows the healthy conditions which prevailed in 1933.
The analysis of the results of medical inspection set out in the paragraphs immediately
following is limited to the three statutory age groups, in order to facilitate
comparison with previous years. The results of the examination of the " leaver "
group are dealt with separatelv.
The state of
nutrition of
the children.
Unremitting attention has been given to the state of nutrition of the children
in school. The long continued depression with its attendant unemployment has
produced acute anxiety lest the children should suffer.
School doctors, school nurses, teachers, managers of schools and members of
care committees have all been eager in their watch for any signs of deterioration in
classes of children in the schools, and in individual children. Many more doubtful
cases have been brought before the school doctor for aid in decision as regards school
feeding than in normal times.
In addition to the regular comprehensive routine care, special inquiries have
been made, details of which are set out in the following pages.
All manifestations of life are attended with breaking down of the tissues of the
body; to preserve life there must be constant repair. In addition during infancy
and childhood provision must be made for growth, so that intake in the form of food
must be greater than the loss in the form of activity and heat.