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Of the 66 referred to the ear, nose and throat clinics, 16 were kept under
observation; 13 were referred to hospital for tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy; nine
were referred to hospital for other treatment; 14 were treated at the clinic; seven
required no treatment; in three cases no treatment was possible; one was referred
to the Audiology Unit; one was issued with a hearing aid; and two children did
not keep appointments.
There were 287 audiometric hearing tests carried out at Southgate Technical
College, and the eight students found to have a hearing loss were referred to their
family doctors.
Foot Inspections
School nurses make regular foot inspections to discover the presence of plantar
warts and other contagious skin conditions of the foot. Plantar warts can be contracted
wherever children walk barefooted, particularly in damp places. During
the year, 70,720 foot inspections were carried out and 1,401 new cases of plantar
warts were found.
(See Statistical Tables 47, 48,49 and 50)
INSPECTIONS FOR CLEANLINESS
Under Section 54 of the Education Act, 1944, a local education authority may
authorise a medical officer to cause examinations of the persons and clothing of
pupils at schools to be made whenever, in his opinion, such examinations are
necessary in the interests of cleanliness, and to take appropriate action to secure
the cleansing of the person and clothing of pupils. School nurses make head inspections
of children, mainly to discover verminous head conditions. There are certain
families which are kept under constant observation because of repeated infestations.
Of the 71,439 children examined for infestation, 135 were found to be in a
verminous condition and 82 required formal action in order to secure cleanliness.
(See Statistical Table 51)
MEDICAL TREATMENT
Under Section 48 of the Education Act, 1944, it is the duty of every local
education authority to make such arrangements for securing the provision of free
medical treatment for pupils for whom primary, secondary or further education is
provided by them at any school or county college or any other educational establishment
maintained by them as are necessary for securing that comprehensive
facilities for free medical treatment are available to them, either under the Education
Act, 1944, or otherwise.
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