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139
(6) When a medical man is not in attendance the Attendance
Officer is instructed not himself to exclude anyone, but to report on
Form A to me the nature of the illness. The case is then visited by the
Health Visitor (a fully qualified nurse), upon whose report, if confir
matory, the child is excluded by the despatch of Form B to the Head
Teacher.
Notifiable infectious diseases and non-notifiable infections of
indefinite duration (e.g., ringworm, sore throat, impetigo, etc.)
In the case of these diseases similar procedure is adopted with the
modification that instead of Form B, in which a definite period of
exclusion is mentioned, Form E is sent off, in which the exclusion is
until a medical certificate of freedom of infection is forwarded. Also
during enquiries made (following upon the information which may be
obtained from the Attendance Officer), if notifiable disease is suspected
arrangements are made for a local practitioner to visit and a payment
of 2s. 6d. per visit is made, plus, of course, the notification fee in cases
where notification is made.
Special cases for examination.
Children who are absentees for a prolonged time are reported to
the Education Committee by the Attendance Officer, and at the Committee's
request these cases are examined by one of the medical staff
of the Department, and a special report is sent by him as to reasonableness
of absence and necessity for continued absence or otherwise. This
procedure is also employed in cases when medical defects have been
found in children, and it is suspected by the Education Department that
medical attention, though promised, is not being obtained. It may be
that in the latter cases legal proceedings are about to be instigated
against the parents or a remand has been made by the magistrates for
medical examination.
Ringworm.
Ringworm cases are either treated by the Department, or where the
parents can afford it by private medical practitioners. In the latter
instances the cases are visited not less than once per quarter by the
Attendance Officer to ascertain whether medical treatment is actually
being obtained or not, and report is made to the medical staff. No
return to school is permitted except on receipt of " freeing notice " from
the School Medical Department.
Dental Treatment.
The Attendance Officers enquire into cases where parents cannot
afford to pay for dental treatment but are willing for treatment to be
carried out by the School Dental Officer.