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One fact must be emphasised, that there seems to be no
economy in staff or time by any of the different methods put
forward.
The reaction of parents appears favourable. These alternative
systems help the anxious parents who have easier access to
medical advice, at perhaps the expense of those who tend to be
apathetic or neglectful, selective examinations demand extra
time and co-operation from teaching staff and may interfere more
with the school curriculum. It is claimed that the better
service afforded is deemed adequate compensation.
I have always regarded routine inspections not as medical
examinations but as medical interviews from which are selected
short lists of children who need further investigation. Selection
by single interview is a technique receiving adverse criticisn
in other fields, where efforts to replace it resemble the
changes urged for medical inspections.
The Committee will understand that despite the apparent
smooth working of existing arrangements in Croydon, it will be
necessary to report on pilot trials of alternative measures if
only to show the value of existing schemes.
The Principal School Dental Officer draws attention to the
disquieting failure of children to obtain dental care, either
from the school or the general dental service. This is increasingly
allied to diminishing parental control and the
avoidance of the unpleasant duty of compelling children to
accept immediate discomfort for future benefits. It places a
greater responsibility on dental health education progranmes to
which we are attaching growing importance.
Hie clinic needed in the Waddon area was approved, and should
be built this year.
Waiting lists for speech therapy gave concern. A surrey was
carried out to assess priorities and younger age groups will be
left waiting for possible spontaneous improvement. Parents
understanding^ are increasingly conscious of speech defects in
their children for which they demand treatment and more staff
and facilities seem inescapable. For the aphasic child in whom
some disorder of the brain exists which prevents the proper development
of speech, precise diagnosis is difficult and methods
of effective treatment may be still undiscovered. Ihis aspect
of speech therapy is being supervised by a School Medical Officer
particularly Interested and greatly helped by the appointment of
a Consultant Neurologist who gives regular sessions at the
central speech clinic.