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73
You are aware that the present staff of School Nurses has only
with the greatest difficulty been able to cope with the work in the
Borough, so that the appointment of an additional nurse, the consideration
of which has been postponed pending the inclusion of Northolt,
will be necessary. This appointment, which would carry a commencing
salary of £200 per annum, should be made at the earliest possible date.
It is proposed to station the new nurse at the Mattock Lane Centre,
to transfer Miss Johnson from the Mattock Lane Centre to the Cherington
Road Centre, and to place Miss McGann in charge of the schools in Greenford,
with which district she is already familiar, and the school in
Northolt.
The time has now come for the Committee to consider the establishing
of a new Health Centre where children attending the Greenford and
Northolt Schools can be treated, and I suggest that application be made
to the Ministry of Health for sanction to appropriate for the purpose a piece
of the land which has recently been acquired by the Council at Coston's
Farm. A Centre at this point would serve the needs, at least for some
years, of both Greenford and Northolt. I am assuming, of course, that
the Committee in establishing such a Centre would, in accordance with
established practice, act in conjunction with the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee, to whom I am reporting on the need for further
provision of accommodation for Maternity and Child Welfare work.
Until the new Centre is available the School Nurse will attend
the school at Northolt on two mornings each week, as is done at Greenford,
for the treatment of minor ailments, and children suffering from other
defects such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids, defective vision, crippling,
etc., will attend the Mattock Lane or Cherington House Centres as may
be suitably arranged. The journey to Cherington House or Mattock
Lane is a long one from either Greenford or Northolt, and makes the
opening of a new Health Centre all the more necessary.
I propose arranging for dental treatment to be carried out at
Northolt School, where, as a temporary measure, the cookery-room
can be utilised as a dental room on two occasions, of a week each, in
the year. The apparatus required at the present time is not large
in amount and consists of a small aseptic table costing £3 18s. 0d. and
a dental engine costing £8 8s. 0d. A suitable light portable dental
chair and a dental cabinet can be hired for the two weeks in the year
for a very small amount. It is not advisable to buy a portable dental
chair and a cabinet at present, for these would not be suitable for a
permanent dental room which would be fitted at the new Health Centre.
The only other piece of apparatus required is a weighing machine
which can be purchased at a cost of £12 10s. 0d.
Recommendations.
1. That a whole-time School Nurse be appointed at a salary of £200
per annum.
2. That steps be taken in conjunction with the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee to establish a new Health Centre to meet
the needs of Greenford and Northolt.
3. That an aseptic table, a dental engine, and a weighing machine be
purchased at an estimated cost of £24 16s. 0d.
THOMAS ORR,
School Medical Officer.
20th September, 1928.