View report page

28
INTRODUCTION.
In order to meet the urgent need for economy the
report for 1939 has been greatly curtailed and confined
only to essential matters as suggested in the Hoard of
Education's circular of 28th December, 1939. Only
extracts from the year's statistics have been included, but
full statistical records have been compiled and retained in
the records for future reference.
Up to the summer vacation of 1939 the School Medical
Service pursued a normal routine, some curtailment since
has been unavoidable in order to meet the exigencies of
civil defence preparations. These preparations could not
have been completed had not the staff given much time
voluntarily outside normal working hours.
From August to the end of 1939 the schools were
closed, but as the long threatened aerial onslaught failed
to materialise, most of the schools opened on a part-time
voluntary basis. By October the medical, dental and
nursing staff were operating a partial school medical
service, and in November the service was fully available
in readiness for the full-time re-opening of the schools
after Christmas. The specialists' clinics for Orthopædic
and Tonsils and Adenoids, were in abeyance but have
been resumed since January, 1940.
Both School Clinics have been adapted for use as
First-Aid Posts. With the exception of operations for
Tonsils and Adenoids, which are being carried out
pro term at a nursing home, the Clinics are now fully
used by the School Medical Service, and their efficiency
as First-Aid Posts, should the need arise, has not been
impaired.
Staff changes are shown at the commencement of
this report. Since the close of the year 1939, additional
work has accrued to the staff as a result of influx of
refugee children, the undertaking of special nutrition
survey of children at the request of the Board and
medical examination of some 700 overseas evacuees
These matters will be the subject of future reports.