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100
Conclusion.
The year has been a difficult one, and the staff has
found it difficult to comply with the requirements of the
School Medical Services. We fell short in our routine
medical inspections, hut this was countered by the
increasing number of children coming up for special
examination at the School Clinic. The special clinics
were found to occupy too large a proportion of the time
of the full time staff, especially in regard to anaesthetics
and tonsil and adenoid operations. The appointments of
an Anaesthetist and an Ophthalmic Surgeon in 1934 will
overcome this difficulty and permit the full-time staff to
undertake more fully the essential work of a school
medical service, which is the maintenance of health of the
elementary school child and the controlling of minor
illness. This can only be done by the frequent and
regular medical examination of the school child
throughout its school years, and by keeping a high
standard of hygiene in the school environment. Even
these efforts will fail unless there is the closest possible
touch with the parents and educational staff, and by
realising the fact that the School Medical Service is not
a watertight compartment, but that it is just a part of
the Health Services of the Borough and of the country as
a whole. In these services no small part is played hy
the voluntary associations, the Nursing Association, the
Children's Care Committee and the work so willingly
and efficiently given by the voluntary workers at the
clinics and centres.
After Care.
The Hon. Secretary of the Care Committee reports as
follows:—
" The main function of the Bromley Children's Care
Committee is to provide convalescent home treatment and
extra nourishment to those children of necessitous families
referred to them through the School Medical Service.
Members of the Committee assist at the various clinics
held daily adding a valuable voluntary spirit to a
municipal service.