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COUNTY BOROUGH OF CROYDON
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE PRINCIPAL
SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER
FOR THE YEAR
1964
To the Chairman and Members of the Education Committee
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
This is the 61st and final Annual Report of the work of the
School Health Service in the County Borough of Croydon. The
Service began in January 1904 when the appointment of the
Medical Officer of Health as Medical Adviser to the School Board
was confirmed by the County Borough Council. In the early years
infectious disease and infestation were prominent in the reports.
In 1904, 17 separate school departments were closed at least
once because of measles - a step not considered necessary during
the past year despite the anticipated prevalence in the Autumn
Term. Infestation has also ceased to be a significant problem
only 1.1% last year compared with some 40% sixty years previously.
School Medical Inspections
Routine school medical inspections were introduced in 1908
when national legislation made such examinations compulsory.
Some exceptions were made if "complete examinations were likely
to be resented" or where there was "lack of privacy". A total of
3,659 children were inspected in 1908 and the attendance of
parents was 35%. In 1964, 12,798 children were examined and
52.3% of the parents attended.