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1
COUNTY BOROUGH OF CROYDON
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE PRINCIPAL
SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER
FOR THE YEAR
1956
To the Chairman and Members of the Education Committee.
ladies and gentlemen.
I have the honour to present for your consideration the
Annua] Report of the Principal School Medical Officer for the
year ending December 31st, 1956.
It has been a period of quiet development. The alteration of
routine medical examinations so that two fall in the primary
school phase and two in the secondary took effect on January 1st
and no difficulties arose. It seems probable that the advantages
foreseen will be realised. Despite the efforts made to ensure
that every child concerned was examined, the totals are slightly
less than those of the previous year. This was due to the need
to divert staff to deal with poliomyelitis vaccination, which
was available for the first time in this country and was introduced
with every possible measure to make certain of its safety.
For the actual giving of the vaccine, which was left entirely
to Health Departments, equally stringent precautions were taken,
so that many more sessions of doctors' and nurses' time were
used for this purpose than would usually be the case.
I have now been authorised to arrange for the employment in
future of special staff, in order that the ordinary work of the
department shall not be interrupted.