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145
Routine medical inspections have continued to be given to
all pupils entering the Infants' Schools, and are repeated when
they reach the age of ten years and fourteen years. In addition,
at eight years of age pupils are given routine tests of vision and
hearing only; a full medical examination is also undertaken at this
age if for any reason it appears necessary. Further, if at any time
during a child's school career, the head teacher, parent or doctor
is concerned about the health of a particular child, arrangements
are made for a special examination to be carried out. Independent
Schools may also participate in the School Health Service.
Follow-up examinations, referrals to General Practitioners,
Specialist Clinics, and to Hospital Consultants are arranged as
and when necessary.
The total number of children attending both maintained and
independent schools, who were examined in the routine age groups
was 13,126. The physical condition of all the pupils inspected
was satisfactory, and 2,257 pupils (17.2%) were found to require
treatment.
A further 4,074 children were given routine tests of vision
and hearing. As a result of which 144 pupils (3.5%) were referred
for treatment because of visual defects, and 29 pupils (.7%) were
referred for treatment because of hearing defects.
Further details of these examinations will be found later in
the Report.
A staff of ten Assistant Medical Officers devote approximately
50% of their time to work within the School Health Service. Each
Medical Officer is responsible for a particular group of schools, so
that regular contact between the head teachers and their own
School Medical Officer is possible.
The schools allocated to each Medical Officer are grouped,
as far as possible, around the Child Welfare Clinics which the
particular Medical Officer also attends. This enables the Medical
Officer to see both the child and its parent at the Child Welfare
Clinic until the child becomes eligible for school, and then continue
seeing them both at school. This continuing care is valuable
as it helps to build up a good relationship between the parent,
child and doctor.