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It has been stated in the present day discussions on reform
of Health Services, that only about fifty per cent. of the public
use the centres and clinics provided by the local authorities;
but if this be true for the country as a whole (which is open to
question), it is certainly not applicable to Bromley, where
failures to keep appointments for inspections and treatments
are negligible.
The above summary of figures discloses that there were no
less than 11,914 medical, specialist and dental examinations, and
that 26,540 attendances were made by children for minor
ailment, dental, eye, massage, corrective exercises and ultra
violet ray treatment during 1943. These figures concern
elementary school children, and indicate the extent of health
facilities provided for and made use of by an average school
roll of 5,038 children. The services are also used by higher
education children and children under five years, but are not
included in the figures quoted.
Staff.
Particulars of staff are given at the beginning of this joint
report.
Co-ordination.
The three-fold services of Maternity and Child Welfare.
School Medical and General Public Health in Bromley have
been welded into one unit of service, so that overlapping is
non-existent, and a continuous health supervision from babyhood
to adolescence is exercised to the fullest capacity. No
successful policy will contemplate disintegration of this trinity
of services. The Public Health Service, no less than any other
organisation or business undertaking, cannot function efficiently
as a worth while service to the public if it is to be broken down
into a series of administrative units.
Hygiene of Schools.
The standard of cleanliness continues to be generally
maintained in the public elementary schools despite certain
difficulties experienced, due to shortage of labour and materials
No major improvements have been undertaken during the year.
The case of one temporary church school falls far short of a
hygienic standard.