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engaged entirely on Maternity and Child Welfare duties.
This is a desirable development and makes possible for
the children a continuity of care from birth to school
leaving age by the same health visitor; it is also desirable
from the Health Visitor's point of view.
There were no serious epidemics during the year and
the health of the schoolchildren has, on the whole, been
satisfactory. The special needs of the many categories of
handicapped children continues to be a major preoccupation
of the staff and reference to the statistical
report will give some indication of the extent and scope
of this work.
Once again, during the year, it was possible to
admit a large number of children to Convalescent Homes
and Open Air Schools, and for these valuable facilities
I acknowledge with thanks the help which we have
received from the Education Department.
The investigation into the health of schoolchildren
which is proceeding in the Borough of Bexley under the
aegis of the Kent Paediatric Society continues to make
progress and a stage has now been reached when interviews
are being arranged with approximately 200
families of Bexley schoolchildren. The first part of the
investigation relating to the Incidence of Health
has been completed and our enquiry into the
Causation of Health is proving to be a very fascinating
part of our work. A report will in due course be
published which should be of great interest to all who
are concerned with the health of schoolchildren and
indeed with health in general.
Once again, I have to record the excellent team work
of all members of the staff on which the success of the
School Health Service so largely depends and finally, I
wish to express my appreciation of the help and
encouragement which I have received during the year
from the Chairman and Members of the Committee, from
Miss Smith, the Senior Clerk, and from the County
Medical Officer and his staff, whose help and co-operation
during the year have been a very valuable asset.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
John Landon,
Medical Officer of Health.
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