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Thirty-five of the thirty-nine children, who will continue
to attend into 1961, are on the Murchison Avenue "open"
lists and four are being seen at the Sidcup Speech Therapy
Clinic.
Fifty-three Bexley children were awaiting appointments
at the end of the year.
By the end of 1960 there had been no applicants to fill
the vacancy occasioned by Mrs. Rant's death. The post
continues to be advertised and it is hoped that it will be
possible to appoint a successor to Mrs. Rant in the near
future.
Sweep Frequency Pure Tone Audiometry.
During 1960, 975 children were tested during their
last year in the Infants' school, i.e., during their seventh
year. Of this number, 875 passed and 100 failed. The latter
children were referred to the School Medical Officers for
investigation and any minor conditions causing temporary
deafness were treated.
In addition, 158 children of all age groups were tested
as special cases referred from various sources including
teachers, and of this number 90 passed and 68 failed. The
158 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 168 failed children were referred back to the School
Medical Officers for further examination and treatment.
Lastly, 199 children attended for a final audiometric
test and this number included children seen in 1959 who
had been referred by the School Medical Officers for a final
test in 6 to 12 months time. Of these 199 children, 115 passed
and 84 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
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