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is an extension of that noted in previous reports and has raised
the question of whether this service might more efficiently be
provided entirely from hospital out-patients. To some extent this
already happens when the hospital orthopaedic clinics receive
patients referred directly from the general medical practitioner
service. Diagnostic facilities are more easily available in hospital
but treatment services at clinics may save valuable school time
for the children and are often more convenient and acceptable
to parents.
Health Education
The comprehensive report shows that we can never become
complacent on this important subject. After rejoicing for several
years on the progressive reduction in home accident figures, this
year an increase of 1,379 casualties, shared between 915 adults
and 464 children, has come as a shock. The local campaigns for
1970 are all directed towards the various identifiable causes but
clearly the continuing and main effort must come from the home.
Last year the new Health Education Council took over the
functions of the Central Council for Health Education. It has
set up a Working Party to consider in particular problems of
sex health education, and in due course Authorities will receive
recommendations. This difficult problem is mentioned later in
this report under the heading of "The School and the Future
Parent".
In concluding this report, I wish to refer to the resignations
of three Medical Officers, Dr. Maxwell in March, Dr. Hilton in
July and Dr. Swistak in December. Dr. Maxwell had served the
former Borough of Bromley for eleven years before transfer to
the London Borough of Bromley and was an efficient and very
popular Medical Officer. At the same time, we welcomed Dr.
Menon in April, Dr. Lyttle in November and Dr. Parkinson in
December, to the School Health Service.
Finally, may I sincerely thank the Chairman and Members
of the Committee for their sympathetic support throughout the
year. Mr. Barraclough, the Chief Education Officer, his staff
with special responsibilities, and the Heads of Schools, have continued
to receive the advice and recommendations of the medical
staff with extreme courtesy, and to encourage wholeheartedly the
development of any worthwhile support service. My own staff,
and in particular Dr. Currie, Senior Medical Officer, have worked
diligently to introduce new ideas to improve the service for the
handicapped child, and to work in unison with the Hospital and
General Medical Services, and I am grateful to them for their
efforts throughout the year.
L. R. L. Edwards,
Principal School Medical Officer.