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special services for children suffering from rheumatic and aural defects are,
I regret to state, over-taxed, but it is what I anticipated in the course of the
first two or three years of these services, and I do not expect to arrive at a
normal incidence of these defects until the schemes have been in operation
for some three years, and extra sessions must, of necessity, be brought into
existence during the forthcoming year.
To the members of the Education Committee my most grateful thanks
for their support during the past year.
I wish to gratefully acknowledge the loyal co-operation of the staff of
the School Medical Service.
I have the honour to remain,
Your obedient servant,
D. REGAN,
School Medical Officer.
1. STAFF.
Mr. F. H. S. Weiss was appointed as Assistant Dentist and commenced
duties on the 13th June, 1938, at the Croyland Road Dental Clinic.
Mrs. Tonkin was transferred from the post of Dental Attendant at the
Pymmes Park Dental Clinic to that of School Nurse—for which she was
originally appointed.
In these circumstances it was necessary to appoint a new Dental
Attendant and Miss A. B. Chaplin was appointed to act as Dental Attendant
from the 5th December, 1938.
In my last Report I mentioned that Miss N. Humphries left the Department
to get married at the end of 1937.
Miss B. E. T. Cross took up office at the Croyland Road Clinic on the
3rd January, 1938.
Another clerk was needed to meet the increased duties in the School
Medical Service and Mr. S. E. Woodroffe was appointed. He commenced his
work here on the 8th August, 1938.
2. CO-ORDINATION.
The work of the School Medical Department continues to be closely
co-ordinated with that of the Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare
Departments.
Any matter pertaining to school children likely to affect the community
in general is brought to the notice of the department concerned.
The Specialist Officers appointed by the Committee treat school children
only. During the year under review arrangements have been made for
continuation of treatment after a child leaves school (provided the name
was already upon the register) for children suffering from orthopaedic
defects, if considered necessary by the Surgeon, under the Public Health
Act of 1936.
The services of the consultants in eye, ear and rheumatic defects
employed by the Education Committee should be made available for children
below school age and also extended to adolescents if considered necessary
by the specialist concerned.
The Dental Scheme was recently extended to cover the pre-school child,
and now that parents realise the benefit of this serv ice, the number of sessions
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