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this branch of the school medical work includes one principal assistant medical officer
for aural work (Mr. A. G. Wells); nine part-time assistant aurists; one part-time
consulting dental surgeon (Mr. B. Samuel); one part-time principal assistant medical
officer (Dr. Barbara Tchaykovsky); one divisional medical officer for ophthalmic
work, nursery schools, etc. (Dr. Elizabeth M. McVail); *21 whole-time assistant
medical officers; 6 assistant medical officers giving six sessions a week; 53 assistant
medical officers giving three sessions a week; additional temporary medical assistance
for 123 sessions a week; 9 medical officers (part-time) at open-air schools; 68 parttime
inspecting dental surgeons. There are 262 part-time doctors, surgeons and
anaesthetists, and 99 part-time dental surgeons engaged at the hospitals and school
treatment centres under the Council's scheme. These appointments are made by
the authorities of the hospitals and treatment centres.
The other section concerned with the school medical service (Dr. F. C. Shrubsall,
senior medical officer) includes the medical examination at the County Hall of
scholarship candidates, school teachers, etc., and the medical work in special and
approved Home Office schools. Dr. Shrubsall also deals with the work under the
Mental Deficiency Acts, the Blind Persons Act, and the medical examination of the
Council's staff. In this section are included the services of a part-time consulting
surgeon for orthopaedics (Mr. K. J. Acton Davis); a part-time ophthalmic consultant
(Mr. J. M. Bickerton); two divisional medical officers (Drs. A. C. Williams and Jessie
G. Duncan) and an assistant medical officer who is attached part time to Pontonroad
remand home. The duties of consulting surgeon for aural disease in this
section are rendered by Mr. A. G. Wells.
The duties of Miss D. E. Bannon, matron-in-chief in the public health department,
include the superintendence of the school nursing staff in addition to the supervision
and organisation of the nursing and certain other staff at hospitals and institutions.
The school nursing service comprises at present five assistant superintendents, 71
nursing sisters and 304 nurses.
The loss during the year through retirement of Dr. A. W. Sikes, for many years
divisional medical officer in the north-west division, and of Mr. Bishop Harman,
consultant ophthalmological surgeon, is recorded with much regret. Particulars of
Mr. Bishop Harman's work in connection with the formation of sight-saving classes
will be found on page 69.
Co-ordination.
Arrangements for co-ordinating the work with that of the local sanitary authorities
and with the hospital authorities of London were set out in detail in last
year's report.
The provision of milk to school children under the scheme of the Milk Marketing
Board, which commenced on 1st October, 1934, necessitated further conference and
combined action with the medical officers of health of the metropolitan borough
authorities, who are jointly with the school medical officer responsible for the supervision
of the quality of the supplies of milk and for the approval of the vendors
(see p. 58).
School hygiene.
Very great improvements are taking place in the structural character of the
school buildings, and many new amenities are being introduced with the object of
rendering school conditions healthier and of keeping pace with advancing knowledge
of hygiene.
The provision of medical inspection rooms is being rapidly carried out in schools,
both provided and non-provided, in which hitherto there have been no special facilities.
The decision to introduce running hot water in children's lavatories, as well
as in medical inspection rooms and teacher's rooms, is an important advance.
Since 1925 the improvement of schools has been carried out in accordance with
3-year programmes. Two such programmes were carried through successfully, but
the third programme, for the years 1930-33, was checked by the financial crisis of
August, 1931. During 1934 a resumption of the three-year programme procedure
was decided upon by the Council.
*Two vacancies—also one medical officer temporarily seconded for work under the Mental
Deficiency Acts and two for work under the Housing Acts (equivalent substitutes authorised).