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158
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the fifth annual report of the
School Health Service of the London Borough of Bromley.
A considerable part of the report again deals with arrangements
for special assistance to either physically or educationally
handicapped children. Included for the first time are reports on
activities for the physically handicapped children at the special
school at Cheyne Hospital, West Wickham, and at the Phoenix
Centre, Farnborough Hospital; both are hospitals situated within
the administrative boundaries of the London Borough of Bromley.
Health of School Children
The health of Bromley school children is satisfactory with
two exceptions.
The Principal School Dental Officer indicates a need for
increased dental health education to reduce the incidence of caries
in infant school children. The Health Education and Home
Safety Officer reports a disappointing increase in home accident
figures.
On the credit side, despite a notified increase of 309 cases of
infectious illness, mainly due to measles, the beneficial effects of
measles preventive vaccinations can already be appreciated. In
1969, when a biennial epidemic should have been experienced,
the number of measles notified was limited to 411. For previous
epidemic years, the figures were 1,730 (1967) and 2,218 (1965).
There is a reduction of the waiting list for speech therapy
from 133 (17 priority) to 64 (10 priority). This has been achieved
in spite of a shortage of staff by an increase in attendances at
clinics and at home and school visits.
Audiology Service
A further six medical officers attended short courses at the
Nuffield Hearing and Speech Centre of the National Ear, Nose
and Throat Hospital, on the "Diagnosis and Treatment of the
Deaf Child"; and it has now become possible to include as part
of each routine school medical examination, a sweep frequency
hearing test. Children who fail are re-examined by an audiometric
threshold hearing test.
The School Health Service and the Welfare Section have
combined in providing vocational guidance for hearing handicapped
school children.
A three classroom unit for partially hearing children has
been opened in purpose built premises with facilities for speech