London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Finchley 1936

[Report of the School Medical Officer for Finchley]

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Co-operation of Teachers.
The closest co-operation exists between the Teachers
and the School Medical Service, and in many instances the
Teachers have been instrumental in persuading parents to
obtain the treatment for their children which has been
recommended by the School Medical Officer. Many children
are referred by Head Teachers for special examination and
children found to be suffering from minor ailments are sent
to the school clinics at the earliest opportunity.
Co-operation of School Attendance Officers.
Weekly lists are prepared by the School Attendance
Department of all children absent from school on account of
illness, and a weekly list of all children who enter or leave
school is submitted to the School Medical Officer. The names
of all children excluded from school by the School Medical
Officer are notified forthwith to the Attendance Department.
The Attendance Officers also inform the School Medical
Officer of any children in their districts who are suspected to
be physically or mentally defective and thus give valuable
assistance in drawing attention to children who might otherwise
escape medical supervision.
Co-operation of Voluntary Bodies.
During the year the Children's Care Committee sent 23
children to Bexhill for a period of two weeks and in 24
cases assistance was granted in the purchase of spectacles.
Blind, Deaf, [Defective and Epileptic Children.
Every effort is made to ascertain children suffering from
“special" defects and it is very unlikely that any are missed.
Physically defective children are few, and so far it has
not been found necessary to establish an Orthopaedic Clinic
in the Borough, but arrangements have been made whereby
the Education Committee assume responsibility for the
maintenance in the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital of any cripple
child recommended for admission by the School Medical
Officer.
No difficulty has been experienced in placing blind, deaf
and epileptic children in certified special schools.
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