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Nine children under the care of the Bexley authority
were awaiting appointments at the end of 1959. Eight of
these children are on the Murchison Avenue Clinic waiting
list and one is on the Sidcup waiting list.
Sweep Frequency Pure Tone Audiometry.
During 1959, 955 children were tested during their
last year in the Infants' school, i.e., during their seventh
year. Of this number, 847 passed and 108 failed. The latter
children were referred to the School Medical Officers for
investigation and any minor conditions causing temporary
deafness were treated.
In addition, 195 children of all age groups were tested
as special cases referred from various sources including
teachers, and of this number 106 passed and 89 failed. The
195 children mentioned above included those children in
the main survey who had been examined by the School
Medical Officers and found to require a re-test following
treatment or otherwise.
The 197 failed children were referred back to the
School Medical Officers who, after further examination and
treatment where necessary, referred 178 children back for a
final audiometric test. Of this number, 92 passed and 86
failed. Further treatment was instituted for the latter children
either at the School Clinics or at the Ear, Nose and
Throat Department of the West Hill Hospital, Dartford,
or other hospitals in the metropolis.
Cleanliness Inspections.
(See Table D).
A feature of the health of schoolchildren in the Borough
for many years has been the exceptionally low rate of infestation
of schoolchildren with vermin. This is now being recognised
by a substantial reduction in the number of school inspections
by Health Visitors for this purpose. Cleanliness inspections
are now carried out in secondary schools only when
they are requested by head teachers. In primary schools
regular cleanliness inspections have been discontinued where,
at three consecutive inspections, no cases of uncleanliness
have been found but further inspections are made if
requested by the head teacher or it appears that special circumstances
warrant an intensification of this work.
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