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SCHOOL HEALTH
Twenty-one children responded successfully, one improved and in eleven
cases no success was reported. After six months a check of 26 reported
cured cases revealed that ten were still dry and six had relapsed; and ten
failed to keep appointments.
Three children were sent on recuperative holidays of two weeks duration
and one child attended a holiday camp under arrangements made by the
British Epilepsy Association. (See Tables 48,49,50,51,52,53 and 54).
Recuperative
holidays
Dental service
It is the duty of the local education authority to provide medical inspection
at appropriate intervals for pupils in attendance at any school or county
college maintained by them, and every local education authority shall have
power to provide for such inspection of senior pupils in attendance at any
other establishment maintained by them. Medical inspection, which is
compulsory for such pupils, is deemed to include dental inspection.
Section 48
Education Act 1944
Under Section 4 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953, the
local education authority has duties and powers in regard to the provision of
free dental treatment, similar to those for medical treatment. Dental treatment,
however, may only be provided by the authority through persons
employed by the authority or under arrangements made with the hospital
service and not through the general dental service.
There are nine clinics in the borough, providing dental suites with a total of
thirteen surgeries, one surgery being used exclusively for orthodontics and
three surgeries being used for the dual purpose of dentistry and orthodontics.
All premises are fitted with up-to-date equipment, including air turbine high
speed instruments, and, for greater convenience, all anaesthetic apparatus is
standard throughout (Walton) as also are the X-ray machines.
Mr. Phillips, the Chief Dental Officer and Principal School Dental Officer,
reports that 35,089 pupils were examined for the first time during the year
by the Borough's Dental Service, this being 5,359 more than last year. Of
those inspected 14,157 (40.3%) were found to require treatment, and of
these, 13,299 (93.9%) had been offered treatment by the end of the year. Of
those offered treatment, 6,888 (51.7%) accepted treatment through the
School Dental Service. It must be remembered, however, that some parents
prefer to arrange dental treatment through the general dental service.
The School Dental Service provides for the day special schools, and also for
the Borough's Wavendon House Residential Special School for educationally
sub-normal boys.
In addition to ordinary dental treatment, the orthodontic service continues
to be in demand. Throughout the year, 6,400 attendances were made; 208
new cases were started; and 246 cases were completed. All dental prosthetic
and orthodontic appliances are made at the Hendon dental laboratory, and
throughout the year four dentures, 564 removable orthodontic appliances,
and 72 fixed orthodontic appliances were supplied.
Dental health education - energetically pursued by dental officers and by
the Health Education Officer - was much appreciated by both teaching
staff and pupils.
Although the Borough is fortunate in the standard of its premises and of
much of its equipment, certain improvements became possible during the
year. At the Central Clinic, a modern unit with a parallel beam light replaced
the existing unit and light in Surgery No. 1, and a similar light was fitted in
Section 4 Education
(Miscellaneous
Provisions)
Act 1953
91