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53
In the following pages is submitted a report, largely routine in nature,
on the School Health Service in the Excepted District of Leyton.
Routine Medical Inspection.
Routine medical inspection has been carried out in all schools in
the Division. It will be noticed that the code groups of children have
been altered from Entrants, Second Age Group and Third Age Group,
to 5 Years, 10-12+ Years and 14 Year Age Groups. It is significant to
to note that in the 5 Year age group 94.55 per cent. of parents are present
at the examination, whereas in the 14 Year age group the percentage of
parents in attendance is 24.31.
The findings of medical inspection in the Age Groups remain at
about average. The "Others" shown in the statistical tables comprise
those children seen at the Occupation Centre.
Uncleanliness and Verminous Conditions.
At the cleanliness inspections held by the nursing staff 176 children
were found to be unclean, out of a total of 26,316 examinations. The
percentage of uncleanliness is 0.67, which is, coincidentally, the same
percentage as in 1954. It should be realised that the verminous child is
still with us, and it is only by unremitting inspection, exclusion and treatment
of the unclean, that the clean are protected against infestation.
Annual Vision Test.
All children attending Schools in the Division have their vision tested
each summer term.
When defective vision is suspected the nursing staff arrange for the
child to attend the Minor Ailment Clinic, where the children are seen
by the School Medical Officers. If the defect is confirmed the child is
then referred to the Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon.
The annual eye test is well worth while, as the child who has defective
vision in one eye rarely complains of poor vision and might be
missed for three to four years if tested at only periodic medical
inspection, and by then it may be too late to save any useful vision in the
defective eye.
By testing frequently, children with such defects are found before
severe damage is done.
Children with short sight, who do not report that they cannot see
because they do not wish to wear spectacles, are also picked up before
the defect has developed too seriously.
The nursing staff who perform this testing also weigh and carry out
a general survey of the child at the same time. This is found to be very
useful in picking up other matters that may require attention.
Specialist Clinics.
It is now four years since the local Hospital Management Committtee
assumed responsibility for the provision of consultants for specialist clinics.
These clinics (Ophthalmic, Orthopaedic, Orthoptic and Ear, Nose and
Throat) are held at the Health Services Clinics in the Division. Dr. A.
Logan Adams, the Consultant Opthalmic Surgeon, had 1,644 children
referred by the medical staff. These children made 2,267 attendances
for examination and treatment.
The Orthoptic Clinic, for children suffering from squint, is held
under the supervision of the Orthoptist (Mrs. K. S. Box). Cases of squint