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TO: THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the eighth annual report of the School Health Service of the London Borough
of Bromley.
There was no special outbreak of infectious disease, and in general the health of schoolchildren is satisfactory.
The pattern of measles incidence follows that of previous years.
A Table indicating defects found on periodic and special medical inspections though not required in future
by the Department of Education and Science, has been included as the information was available and enable a final
local comparison with previous tables to be recorded.
There was an increase of 2,353 routine medical inspections which was an improvement on previous years. A
contributory factor has been the employment of a school nurse for vision testing and an audiometrician for hearing
tests thus freeing more time of the Medical Officers in Department for these examinations.
DENTAL HEALTH
Even though comparing favourably with most London Boroughs indications are that dental good health if
expressed by a diminishing tooth extraction rate, still leaves much to be desired. The Principal School Dental Officer
refers to the harmful effects of consuming sugar and sweetstuffs, and comments favourably on a small trial of topical
application of fluoride, and on the co-operation of Head Teachers and Staff in a Dental Health Campaign.
IMMUNISATION SERVICE
The acceptance rate for Rubella (German Measles) vaccination reached a record 79.9%, and this vaccination
has now been offered to all eligible groups. The acceptance rate for B.C.G. vaccination for the prevention of
tuberclosis was 91.5%.
SPEECH THERAPY
Changes and shortages of staff have continued in this section. Consequently, while the number of children
referred to clinics increased from 209 to 221, the number of attendances fell from 4,583 to 3,579. However, the
service is being spread in as rational a manner as possible and while there was a decrease in the number of home and
school visists, there was an increase in the number of initial interviews and of attendances at Special Schools (excluding
Goddington) and at special opportunity classes.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICE
A most precise and comprehensive report summarises the provisions for children within the scope of the
School Psychological Service; and also indicates the extent of commitment of this service beyond its original brief as
the result of new legislative requirements arising in the past 3 years.
Of particular interest is the anticipated additional work arising from four capital educational projects planned
for handicapped children during 1973/74/75 of a school for Physically Handicapped, a Day School for Maladjusted, a
Day School for Severly Sub-Normal, and a Secondary Partially Hearing Unit.
Most important has been the extension of the risk age range from the narrower limits of 5 to 15 years to one
starting at 2 years or even before and extending to 16 years and even beyond both for private provisions and under
the National Health Service.
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