Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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(i) Milk—Since all pupils receive l/3rd pint of milk free of charge there is no
point in 'recommendations' for milk being made at medical inspections at
ordinary schools.
(ii) Meals—Assessment is a matter for the Care Committee, and there is no
need for pupils receiving free meals to be presented by the Care Committee to the
doctor to obtain medical 'cover' to the free assessment.
(iii) Vitamins—All pupils should pay for these 'nutrients' in school. A need
on medical grounds is met by a free issue of medicaments from a treatment centre.
Advice at a medical inspection to take vitamin supplements, like advice to take
school meals, is not a 'prescription' which the Head must 'dispense' free of
charge (The Education Committee decided that the issue of capsules from school
should be discontinued from 1.1.59.)
In concluding their report the departmental committee said:
"In view of our terms of reference, this report has necessarily been concerned mainly
with the present practices in the field of medical inspections, and therefore there remain
many aspects of the work of the school health service which either we have not considered,
or about which we did not feel it was appropriate to make recommendations.
Some of these, such as the duties of health visitors, are matters which are being discussed
elsewhere, whilst others, such as developments in the fields of health education, and
mental health education are matters in which the future, and the not too far distant
future at that, may bring great changes. Accordingly therefore some of what has been
said in this report may well need to be reconsidered in the light of any change of emphasis
or direction which the future may bring in the activities of the school health service."
1956 | 1957 | 1958 | |
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Employment of school children
4,266 medical examinations were carried out locally with a view to the issue of employment
certificates and 311 medical examinations of children were carried out in respect
of employment under licence in public entertainments.
Choice of employment
Pupils advised, at their 'school leavers' general medical inspection, against particular
forms of employment formed 13.6 per cent. of all leavers examined.
Contra-indications | Boys | Girls |
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