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There is a wider field than structural hygiene—the
practice of hygiene by the pupils in the schools. In every
way is this to be taught and practised, but the presence of
roller towels, drinking vessels for common use, and inadequate
washing accommodation, makes the practice of
hygiene difficult and the teaching of hygiene sometimes
useless.
Co-ordination of School Medical Service with the Health
Services.
The co-ordination is not only complete in theory, but is
complete in practice. The pre-school child being a potential
school child is now receiving routine medical examination
through the Centres, and the treatment of defects discovered
is being carried out through the Clinics of the
School Medical Service. The diseases of Ear, Nose, Throat,
Eye, Dental and physical deformities discovered at the Welfare
Centres, or through home visits of Health Visitors,
receive treatment at the Special Clinics.
There is an ever increasing appreciation of the practice
that early discovery of defect will lead to the prevention
of disease and ill-health. Head teachers, voluntary
workers, and attendance officers all give the greatest help
in the work of these services, and every opportunity is
thus given the child, whether it be a school child or preschool
child, to develop along the lines of true fitness. Uecause
an unfit child cannot partake of the educational
facilities provided by the Local Authority, it becomes an
expense upon that Local Education Authority. It therefore
behoves all of us to make these medical services efficient
and wide in extent of service. The fact that shortage of
school accommodation is now precluding the attendance of
the under five years old child, raises the question of the
provision of nursery schools or nursing classes.
Medical Inspection.
Routine medical inspection of the child at school is
carried out as previously, viz., at age of entry to school,
at seven years of age, and at 12 years of age. We have
been unable to extend to a further age group between seven
and 12 years of age.