Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wembley]
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CHAPTER IV.
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES.
1. SERVICES PROVIDED, Schools (22) allocated in 5
areas to Medical Officers; Health Visitors allocated to particular
schools—Periodic routine and special inspections conducted at
schools—Clinic Services, Minor Ailments (treatment, issue of
accessory nutrients, etc.), Dental, Ophthalmic, Orthopædic,
Speech Therapy, for further Specialist opinion (e.g., tonsils and
adenoids, cardiac and chest conditions, skin conditions, ringworm),
specialist examinations {e.g., X-ray) pupils referred to County
Hospitals (Redhill or Central Middlesex, or Chest Clinics)—Child
Guidance Clinic at 2, St. John's Road, Harrow—Ascertainment of
handicapped pupils, recommendation re special schools (boarding
and day)—Advise parents of children about to leave school regarding
the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944—Ascertainment
and recommendation regarding children incapable of
receiving education at school—Cleanliness, general scrutiny,
ascertainment and advice given—Supervision of private schools
regarding sanitary accommodation and avoidance of overcrowding.
2. DEVELOPMENT 10 YEARS, 1936 - 1946. Until July,
1945, this service was administered independently by the Middlesex
County Council—service now dealt with under Scheme of
Divisional Administration of Education (July, 1945), the Borough
being an "Excepted District" according to Education Act, 1944.
3. Considerable progress in the integration of the School
Health Services was made during the year. The figures in
Appendix D show a large increase in the number of routine
medical inspections at the schools—2,440 in 1945, 4,751 in 1946.
It is anticipated that this figure will be still further increased in
1947. Routine inspections are now being undertaken according
to a scheme by which all children are examined within six months
of their entry into school life. The 10-year old group is being
examined before the pupils enter the Secondary Schools, while
the 13/14-year old group has been examined as far as possible
during the term immediately before leaving school. Grammar
School pupils are being examined annually and it is hoped soon
to be able to arrange for the Secondary Modern School pupils to
be examined more frequently. With more examinations, of course,
more defects have been ascertained and treated (see Appendix).
4. Expansion has also taken place in the Clinic Services.
Clinic Sessions had been held once weekly at Wembley Hill, One
Tree Hill and Stag Lane County Clinic. The arrangements now
provide Minor Ailment Clinic Sessions with a Medical Officer in
attendance twice per week at Stag Lane County Clinic, College
Road, Perrin Road, Wembley Hill, One Tree Hill, ten Sessions in
all. This service, further, is provided much nearer to the various
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