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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
Dr. Mary Douglas, Principal Medical Officer

Medical Examinations in School
The medical examination of the school child is directed to eliciting signs of deviation from the normal which
may handicap a pupil's learning ability. Therefore very special attention is given to assessing the hearing acuity
and the visual acuity of each child, independent of the doctor's visit to a school.
Special importance is attached to the child's first medical examination in school, when the maximum number
sent for at each session does not exceed 15, and when a very detailed examination is carried out.
During the final statutory year of school life, each pupil has a leaving interview with the school doctor
when the pupil is given the opportunity to discuss his or her own health problems with the doctor and
ask advice relevant to health about a future career. Medical examination at other stages in a child's school
life is carried out by selection, either by request of the parents or the Head Teacher, or to supervise a child
known to have a handicap which could add to his difficulty in making normal school progress.
Endeavours are made to have the school doctor visit his or her primary schools each month, particularly to
meet the needs of new entrants. During 1970 efforts were made to increase the visits to secondary schools,
at least two of which the doctor visits weekly, so that the medical officer is available for consultation with
the Head Teacher and the pastoral heads of the school.
The Blanche Nevile School, including the partially, hearing units, is visited by a medical officer once a month
and the Vale School for physically handicapped children has bi-weekly visits from a medical officer. In
September 1970 the Moselle School for educationally subnormal pupils opened in temporary premises and
classes are held for children aged 10-12. It is hoped that these children also will have a monthly visit from
the school medical officer. The William C. Harvey School for severely subnormal children was opened in
September 1970. There are 108 pupils in the school including 36 children with dual handicaps in the special
care unit. Although this school will not officially come under the control of the Education Department
until April 1971, medical services equivalent to those in other schools are already being provided and the
school has a weekly visit from a senior medical officer of the Child Health Service.
During 1970 children with handicaps either attending Haringey Schools or placed by Haringey in schools
outside the Borough were offered an annual medical review.
Signifies Selective Medical Examinations
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