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140
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Second Annual Report on
the School Health Service of the London Borough of Bromley.
Health of School Children
It is again reassuring to be able to report to the Committee that
the physical condition of school children in the Borough is satisfactory.
The contribution of Physical Education to this excellent
situation is due in a large measure to the comprehensive system
introduced by the Advisers on Physical Education, and I am glad
to be able to include for the first time a report from this section
of the Education Department. The report speaks for itself and I
note with pleasure that the national pre-eminence in swimming of
the Borough is now being slowly followed by gymnastics and
trampolining. All these activities are positive contributions to the
promotion of good health in our school children.
Infectious Diseases
There was a considerable reduction in the number of cases in
all these diseases with the exception of whooping cough, in which
there was a slight increase. There was no evidence that the present
vaccine against whooping cough is not effective.
An investigation of school children and staff who had been
in contact with a case of tuberculosis at a school was carried out.
No further cases were revealed.
Independent Schools
Under Section 78 (2) of the Education Act 1944, School
Health Service arrangements can be extended to independent
schools. Such arrangements have always existed in one part of
the Borough but now sufficient independent schools are participating
throughout the Borough to enable me to present to the
Committee a comprehensive tabular report on defects found on
medical inspections at schools in the Borough. A similar preponderance
of defects affecting vision, and defects of the ear, nose
and throat in these schools was found.
Child Guidance
The service suffered a great loss by the death of Dr. Judith
Waterlow, a dedicated member of the staff who conducted the
Child Guidance Clinic in Chislehurst and took an active and
popular part in the community work of Voluntary Associations in
the Borough. She will be greatly missed.