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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
MEDICAL INSPECTION AND TREATMENT
In last year's report I mentioned that I felt some adjustments
were needed in the programme of school medical inspections, and
these were made during 1954. Instead of going into each school
once in approximately eighteen months to two years and examining
every child in that school, each Medical Officer now visits his schools
at least once a year and twice if possible. During his annual visit
he does a complete examination of every child in certain age groups
only, i.e. the first year group in Infant Schools (5 years +), the first
and third year groups of Junior Schools (7 years + and 9 years +),
and the first and last years in Secondary Schools (11 years + and
14 years +). In Grammar Schools an additional examination is
carried out before leaving at 17 +.
In addition to these "periodic" examinations the Medical Officer
also sees children of other age groups brought forward at the request
of parent or teacher ("specials"), and checks on defects found at
previous examinations ("re-inspections").
This system is more selective since the healthy children are seen
less frequently whilst those with defects are examined more often than
before. In addition the more regular, though somewhat briefer, visits
to each school are welcomed by the head-teachers.
The reorganization timed to begin with the school year is, I think,
the main reason for the fact that during 1954 there were over twice
as many "entrants" examined as "leavers".
PERIODIC MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Nun. r of Inspections in the prescribed Groups:—
Entrants 2,189
Second Age Group 1,561
Third Age Group 1,019
Total 4,769
Number of other Periodic Inspections.. 3,788
Total 8,557
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