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111
March 2nd, 1936.
APPENDIX J.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAMME OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
Board of Education Circular 1444.
SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS.
I beg to report on the above Circular in accordance with the following Minute of the Education
Committee :—
" We have received a copy of the above Circular (Administrative Programme of Educational
Development), and have requested the Medical Officer to present to us a report hereon for
consideration at our next meeting."
In paragraphs 16 and 17 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (/) and (g) of Circular 1444 references are made to
the School Medical Service and Special Schools :—
"16. Under Section 80 of the Education Act, 1921, it is the duty of a Local Authority
not only to provide for the medical inspection of children attending public elementary schools,
but also to make adequate and suitable arrangements for attending to their health and physical
condition. In view of the variations which still exist in the provision made for the School
Medical Service, Authorities would do well to survey the needs of their areas and to consider
what further steps should be taken to remedy any deficiencies which may be discovered in their
present arrangements. Special Schools are so closely linked with the work of the School
Medical Service that no such survey can be complete which does not take them into account.
"17. In surveying the needs of an area, account must necessarily be taken of what has
already been done as well as of the particular circumstances of the area. In all plans for
development the Authorities will appreciate the desirability of using to the full the existing
agencies. Taking the country as a whole, the chief deficiencies are the following :—
" (a) The School Dental Service is seriously incomplete in most parts of the country.
Authorities should aim at securing an initial dental inspection of every child on its entry
into school life, to be followed by an annual re-examination until the child ceases to attend
school. On this basis the Board estimate that, with a normal number of acceptances for
treatment, a minimum standard should consist of one dentist for 5,000 children in an urban
area and 4,000 children in a rural area, although this is insufficient where a high percentage
of parents accept treatment for their children. The Board look to Authorities to examine
their present arrangements with a view to securing that their dental staff docs not fall
short of the requirements of their areas."
Note by Dr. Buchan.
17. (a) The School Dental Service.
In the Borough of Willesden there are approximately 21,000 elementary school children and
2,400 secondary and technical school children, making 23,400 in all, who need routine dental inspection.
The Council employ four dentists, who also carry out work in relation to expectant and nursing mothers
and children under five years of age.
The Board of Education desire that every child should be dentally inspected annually during
its school life, and on this basis estimate that, with a normal number of acceptances for treatment, a
minimum standard of one dentist for 5,000 children is required.
It will be observed that Willesden is below this minimum standard, each dentist having 5,850
school children, with expectant and nursing mothers and children under five years in addition.
" 17. (b) There should, in every area, be a scheme designed in conjunction with an
orthopaedic hospital to provide adequately for the ascertainment, treatment, and after-care of
children suffering from crippling defects. There are at present over 70 Authorities which have
not established such schemes. Even areas which have a scheme should consider the adequacy
of the provision of places in orthopaedic hospital schools for children who require long periods
of treatment."
Note by Dr. Buchan.
17. (b) The Council has in operation an orthopaedic scheme designed in conjunction with the
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore. The scheme provides for—
I. Ascertainment of cripples at an early age :—
(i) Through the Health Visitors.
(ii) Through the School Medical Officers, School Teachers, School Attendance Officers
and School Nurses.
(iii) Through the Health Centre—Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics; Nursery
Classes.
II. Treatment at the Orthopaedic Clinic in the Stonebridge Health Centre by the Orthopaedic
Nurses and the Council's Orthopaedic Surgeon, with following up by the Health Visitors
to maintain regular attendance.