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REPORT ON THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
DURING THE YEAR 1947.
To the Chairman and Members of the Welfare and School
Attendance Sub-Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in submitting my first report on the School
Health Service for the year 1947. As members are aware,
the School Health Service was delegated by the Kent Education
Committee to the Excepted District of the Borough of
Bexley as from the 1st February, 1947, and this, in effect,
entailed the setting up of a local office and organisation to
take over, on an agency basis, the services which the County
Council had provided. The necessary records were, accordingly,
transferred from the County Hall, Maidstone, to the
Health Department, 14, Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, where
accommodation was provided and steps were also taken to
call in the medical cards relating to approximately 12,000
school children which had previously been kept at individual
schools.
An Assistant Medical Officer of Health and two County
Health Visitors were seconded to the staff of the Medical
Officer of Health, and the Little Danson Clinic was transferred
to the care of the Committee for Education, while other services
were provided at the Woodside Clinic, Crayford, although
these premises remained under central control. A School
Health Service Clerk and an Assistant Clerk were also provided.
The change over to a local form of administration was
effected smoothly and I should like to acknowledge the help
and co-operation which I received from the County Medical
Officer and the members of his staff, from the Borough
Education Officer, the Head Teachers and staffs of schools
who freely gave their advice and help.
As the year progressed a number of important developments
took place which added to the efficiency of the service.
At the beginning of the year the Borough was served by one
whole-time dentist and one part-time dentist. A second parttime
dentist was appointed on June 2nd, 1947 and on September
1st a second whole-time dental officer was appointed in
place of the two part-time appointments. The dental services
appear to have adequately met the needs of the Borough and
the orthodontic service has been greatly appreciated.
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