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health education and give parents a greater realisation
of the scope and functions of the School Health Service
and of child care in general.
It has often been felt that the school health records
in our possession have not been used sufficiently in the
past from the point of view of fostering research into
problems of child health. I have pleasure, therefore, in
reporting that, in conjunction with the Kent Pediatric
Society, an investigation is being made locally into the
incidence and causation of positive health among school
children, and in this matter we have the great advantage
of the help and advice of Professor John Ryle of the
Institute of Social Medicine at Oxford.
The success of the School Health Service depends to
a large extent on team work in which the Doctors,
Health Visitors, Clerical Staff, Head Teachers, School
Enquiry Officers and parents co-operate, and much of
the work that is carried out cannot be recorded statistically.
It is true to say, however, that as a result of
co-operative action we have built up an "intelligence
service" which ensures that full arid up-to-date information
is available to us in regard to the health of the
children. In this connection the work of the Health
Visitors is of prime importance, as they are, in fact, the
spearhead of the School Health Service as it is through
their influence with parents that the best use can be made
of the facilities which are provided.
I wish to express my appreciation of the help and
support which I have received during the year from the
Chairman and Members of the Committee and from all
members of the staff on whose industry and devotion
to duty the success of this very personal service depends.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Tour obedient servant,
John Landon,
Medical Officer of Health.
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