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with the general increase in health of the population, has reduced the need for
routine medical inspection. It is felt that selective medical examination allows more
time to be given to those children who really need assistance, by reducing the time
spent in the relatively unprofitable examination of fit children.
The system involves parents of children of this age group filling in a
questionnaire, and the school medical officer assessing whether an examination is
indicated. In addition to the questionnaire, such selection methods as referral by
teachers, weekly visits to the school by the school nurse, and attendance by the
school doctor at physical education classes are used. It should be emphasized that
such schemes are not economical of doctor and nurse time, and nor are they intended
to be. The object is to provide a better service for children who are actually in need of
it. I look forward with interest to the outcome of this scheme in Ealing.
School Medical Rooms
As part of the review of the service the facilities provided for school medical
rooms were assessed and the results are summarized below:
Group 1 Schools with designated medical rooms in
which satisfactory arrangements exist 31
Group 2 Schools with medical rooms with some defect 22
Group 3 Schools without medical rooms, but where
arrangements are reasonably satisfactory 6
Group 4 Schools without medical rooms, and where
arrangements are not satisfactory 43
Group 5 Schools where no medical facilities are
available and inspection is carried out
at a clinic 7
Total 109
A 10 year programme of improvement has been agreed.
SCREENING PROCEDURES
An important adjunct to the routine inspection of children is the frequent
visiting of schools by nursing or medical auxiliary staff for the purpose of screening
large numbers of children for defects. Such visits are made for the following purposes:
1) Audiometry
2) Foot Health
3) Head Inspections
4) Vision Testing
Audiometry
This is devised to detect even a slight loss of hearing at the earliest possible
opportunity. The first test is carried out shortly after admission to school and
thereafter at two to three yearly intervals. Any loss of hearing is reported to the
school doctor who will examine the child to exclude some minor or temporary condition.
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