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165
artificial limbs and appliances, spectacles, dentures, insulin, convalescence, etc., had
all been available free and without delay, through the school health service.
After July, 1948 a number of specialist services which the Council had itself been
providing became the responsibility of the hospital authorities. The Ministry of
Education in circular 179 suggested that the regional hospital boards should plan future
organisation and development of specialist services for school pupils in consultation and
agreement with local education authorities. The four metropolitan regional hospital
boards were concerned in these consultations with the Council as were a large number of
boards of governors of teaching hospitals. Considering the expansion of the specialist
services generally since 1948 remarkably little restriction of the expansion of the
specialist services for school children has been encountered and in the field of child
guidance co-operation with the hospital authorities has been notably successful.
The effect of the National Health Service on priority dental services for the school
child has been difficult to estimate. There has undoubtedly been a reduction by about
one-third in the dental treatment provided by the Council, but against this must be set
the availability of free dentistry provided under Part IV of the Act. The extent to which
general dental practitioners treat school children is difficult to estimate.
The basis of the school health service—systematic medical inspection—has continued
unimpaired ; and thanks to the various social worker services, including the voluntary
care workers, defects discovered by the school doctor are in general followed up to
ensure that suitable treatment is obtained. It must be pointed out, however, that owing
to the multiplicity of authorities now providing that treatment the task of ensuring the
health of the school child is a good deal more complex than it was before July, 1948.