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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
We have seen that Public Health in Barking is now a centenarian
and that the National Health Service is a thriving though yet immature
toddler of five. The School Health Service will soon celebrate its half
century and has, if I may suggest so, reached a respectable but rather
complacent middle-age.
The School Health Service in this country was conceived some
fifty years ago when a committee was appointed to investigate the
rather alarming fact that of the young men being medically examined
for the South African war nearly one-third had to be rejected on
medical grounds. This committee reported that many of the defects
from which these young men were suffering had existed during their
school life, and that they could have been detected and treated at a
much earlier stage had facilities been available. As a result of this
report (published in 1904) a system of compulsory school medical
examinations was set up. In order to treat the numerous defects
which were found on examination facilities for treatment had to be
made available, and a system of school meals was instituted for those
necessitous children whose condition was one of general debility due
to under- nourishment.
Does the service, as we know it today, differ in any important
aspect from that instituted fifty years ago? True, in addition to routine
medical inspections, we have routine dental inspections, School Nurses
carry out canliness inspections and we even have people called
Audiometricians who go round the schools testing children's hearing.
We still have our minor ailment clinics although these are now
supported by various specialist services, and to these must be added
such facilities as speech therapy, squint training, dental hygiene and
child guidance clinics. Arrangements for convalescent holidays are
made where necessary, and special schools are available for the more
seriously or permanently handicapped child.
You will agree that, although increased in scope, there seems little
new in Principle in our present-day scheme. I think too that you will
be as surprised as I was to discover that, despite the activities of the
School Medical Service throughout the country during the best part of
a half century, about 18% of young men examined for National Service
are still turned down on medical grounds.
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