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102
the school and family doctor. This is inescapable if large numbers
of children are to be surveyed by the same examiners, and cannot
be remedied by any system of employing general practitioners.
In so far as health education is concerned, this division is not
of great importance since the basic rules of health are generally
agreed. If, however, a defect is found in an individual child,
which is thought to need treatment, then clearly the family doctor
must be consulted. We have, therefore, adopted the scheme
suggested by the British Medical Association and the Society of
Medical Officers of Health, whereby a note is sent to the family
doctor stating the suggestion made to the parent, and giving him
the opportunity to deal with the patient himself. The absence of
a reply is the indication that he wishes action to be taken by the
School Health Service, and a copy of any report is forwarded in
due course. These arrangements are working smoothly.
The School Dental Service has been augmented by part-time
dental officers, but remains far below effective strength. There
are now no undue delays in the supply of spectacles, and their
provision has become a direct function of the Group Hospital
Management Committee. The co-operation between the Hospital
and School Health Service remains close and cordial.
The incidence of infectious diseases was relatively high,
especially Measles, and this must be related to the large intake
of susceptible 5-year olds from small families, now reaching a
peak figure. General hygienic measures, and the exclusion of cases,
suspects and contacts have been applied. The stringency of the
measures taken must be related to the severity of the illnesses
concerned. There is clearly little advantage in excluding children
for long periods for infections producing a few days of minor illhealth
only. The reasons for the changes in the nature of the
common infectious diseases of childhood are debatable, but it is
a fact that at present most are consistently mild.
The difficulty of insufficient accommodation, both day and
residential, for Educationally Sub-Normal children continued.
The former should be relieved by the classrooms which were
being built at St. Christopher's School, but no early solution is
likely for the problem of residential places. The demand for suitable
vacancies for maladjusted and physically handicapped pupils
was greater than could be met.
My thanks are due to the Members of the Education Committee,
whose interest in the health and welfare of the children is,
as always, their major concern, and to the Officers of the Department
for their constant application to routine and special duties.