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18 SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE (INCLUDING DENTAL SERVICE)
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
At least three examinations during a child's school life
are carried out in the London Borough of Ealing. The ages
at which these examinations are carried out are at age 5
6 years (school entrants) age 9-10 years (junior school)
and 14-15 years (senior school leavers)
The total school population at the end of 1971 was 45,462
and the details of the examinations carried out are as
follows:-
First age group 4727) Total:
Second age group 3714) 12413
Third age group 3972 )
Classification of general conditions:-
Satisfactory 12303
Unsatisfactory 110
Defects noted at routine Medical Inspections are as
follows:-
Skin 606
Vision 1311
Squint 253
Hearing 337
Middle Ear Disease 391
Nose and throat 723
Speech 253
Enlarged glands 244
Heart 190
Lungs 259
Hernia 40
Epilepsy 43
Orthopaedic:-
PosturaI 115
Feet 448
SELECTIVE MEDICAL EXAMINATION
During 1971 a pilot scheme of selective medical
examinations was started in four selected schools by two
medical officers. This was carried out in the second age
group, and a questionnaire was sent to each parent about
their child's health. Only children with a known physical
or behaviour problem were examined. Such a scheme
requires close co-operation between the head teacher,
school nurse and school doctor.
Following analysis the following points were made:-
(a) Much time was spent in administrative arrangements.
(a) The questionnaire was lengthy.
(c) Local knowledge of the children was inadequate
in areas where there had been a high staff turnover.
(d) The method was unsatisfactory where there were
immigrant children. Attendance of parents was low
probably because children are "bussed" to
schools at some distance from their homes.
(e) It was felt that the scheme had been worthwhile
but that further work on it was necessary,
widening its field of operation.
SCHOOL MEDICAL ROOMS
Unfortunately, the progress in school medical rooms has
not been as rapid as had been hoped. However, when the
new school plan has been implemented it is hoped that
this matter will then be dealt with.
SCREENING PROCEDURES
These procedures are done in addition to the routine
inspection of children by nursing or medical auxiliary
staff, for the purpose of screening large numbers of
children for defects. Visits are made for the following
pur poses:-
1) Audiometry
2) Head inspections
3) Vision testing
(1) Audiometry
This is devised to detect even slight hearing loss. It is
carried out when possible, during the child's first year
in school, and thereafter at three yearly intervals. Any
hearing loss is reported to the School Medical Officer, so
that minor or temporary conditions may be excluded
before further referral is made, either to the child's
general practitioner or to the Audiology Unit at Heston.
The figures for tests carried out during the year were:-
Children tested 14975
Schools visited 80
Children with hearing loss 1114
Not all those children showing hearing loss were
severely affected and most were helped by treatment.