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96
SCHOOL HYGIENE.
Two schools came under special report during 1947—viz. the
temporary school premises of Bickley and Widmore Church of
England School, and the Parish Church of England School,
College Road. Both the school premises are far below standard.
Otherwise the cleanliness and hygiene of other schools has
been maintained.
The investigation made into canteens in 1946-47 has been
continued and considerable improvements have resulted.
CO-ORDINATION.
Closest integration of Public Health, Maternity and Child
Welfare, and School Health Services has continued. The cooperation
of Head Teachers, Welfare Officers and administrative
staff has been all that one could wish, and the help given us by
the County School Medical Officer has at all times helped to
make the services efficient. The hospital services, and the
specialists associated with the hospital, have given us full reports
on individual cases and resulted in moulding the treatment and
prevention of illness into one service. Likewise, the interchange
of information on the environmental living conditions of
children admitted to hospital has helped considerably in making
the integration of Public Health Services and treatment services
complete. It can be said, so far as Bromley is concerned, that
even to-day, before the operation of the National Health Service
Act, there is one service and not separate services for the care
and welfare of the school child.
MEDICAL INSPECTIONS AT SCHOOL.
(See Tables I A and I C, and Table II A, cols. 2 and 3)
223 medical inspection sessions were made at the schools, the
average attendance being 14.5 per session of 2g hours each. It
is essential that if these routine inspections are to be thorough
and complete, not only must the medical room accommodation
and equipment be adequate, but that at least 10 minutes be given
to each examination. Only 34 children of those called failed to
attend by the year's end, an indication of the trust the parents
place in these examinations. 82 per cent, of children attended
with parents which in itself increases the value of the inspection.
The higher percentage of children found with defects requiring
treatment viz. 30 per cent, is to be noted. I am unable
to dissect this without considerable research into the individual