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23
INTRODUCTION TO REPORT ON SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.
The changes in the organisation of the School
Departments consequent on the gradual provision of
Shelters at the different schools,increased the
difficulties of the School Medical Service in
arranging the necessary Routine Medical Inspections
and Clinic sessions. Whilst the Infants were not
attending School regularly, it was not possible to
examine many of the Entrants Code Group. These facts,
as well as the marked reduction in the numbers on the
Registers, and the interference with the work caused
by repeated alerts and air-raids during the day-time
in September and October, account for the reduced
numbers examined at Routine Medical Inspections.
Nevertheless, the number examined at these Inspections
in 1940 compares very favourably with the number
examined during the previous year.
School Inspection Clinics and Clinics for the
treatment of Minor Ailments were held regularly
throughout the year, and the schools were visited
frequently by the School Medical Officers and the
School Nurses. The various Special Clinics continued
to operate, though the number of sessions held and the
number of attendances made were naturally lower than
in ordinary years.
In July, certain changes were made in the duties
of the Health Visitors and School Nurses. Prior to
that time, of the five Nurses in the Service of the
Corporation, one had been a whole-time Health Visitor,
one a whole-time School Nurse, whilst the remaining
three gave half of their time to each service. In
July, three Nurses became whole-time Health Visitors
and two became whole-time School Nurses. Owing to the
geography of the Borough, this re-arrangement was
beneficial to both services, much time previously
taken in travelling to and from the Town Hall Clinic
being saved.
Miss Monck, who had been the Dental Nurse for 14
years, was appointed as the second whole-time School
Nurse, her place as Dental Nurse being taken by a
Dental Attendant - Miss Bradford. In November, Miss
Monck was called up for service with the Q.A.I.M.N.S.
In August, a single session v/as instituted in the
Schools in place of the regular morning and afternoon
sessions. This session was between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
A short period for relaxation and refreshment was given
in the middle of the session. The children brought
sandwiches and light refreshment from home, and over
90% had milk under the Milk in Schools Scheme. I
visited every department on several occasions, and I
found nothing to suggest that this single long session
was having a harmful effect on the health of the
children: in some respects it was an advantage since