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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The Borough has a duty to provide for the medical inspection at appropriate
intervals, and to make arrangements for securing the provision of free medical
and dental treatment pf pupils in attendance at maintained schools. The School
Health Service, under the direction of the Principal School Medical Officer,
administers these services on behalf of the Borough.
It is the aim of the School Health Service, in collaboration with the
Education Department, to be satisfied by means of these medical examinations
that every child is able to receive the type of education best suited to his
age, aptitude and ability.
On his appointment as Senior Medical Officer, Dr. P.A. Currie pursued
the policy of close liaison with the Head Teachers and was able, during the
course of the year, to visit at least once, all maintained schools in the Borough.
These are 34 secondary (including 2 direct grant) and 86 primary schools
in the Borough; also 3 special day schools for educationally subnormal children.
In January there were 45,551 pupils (an increase of 777) on the registers
of the maintained primary, secondary, special and nursery schools.
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 only
undertaken at this age if, for any reason, it appears necessary.
It will be recalled that some difficulty had occasionally been experienced
in obtaining the required standards for accurate vision testing in Schools.
However, following the provision to all Health Visitors of an Occluder and 2
(different) Vision Testing Charts, these examinations have been facilitated.
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.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to complete the programme of Routine
Medical Inspections envisaged at the beginning of the year. This was due to
the fact that the complement of Medical Officers was only at total strength
for approximately one month during the year. In spite of the shortage of Medical
Officers, however, the very important preventive health measure of B.C.G.
Vaccination against Tuberculosis was given priority in order to complete the
programme during the Spring and Autumn Terms.
The total number of children attending both maintained and independent
schools, who were examined in the routine age groups was 11,044. The physical
condition of all the pupils inspected was satisfactory, and 1,970 pupils
(17.8%) were found to require treatment.
A further 4,005 children were given routine tests of vision and hearing,
as a result of which 185 pupils (4.6%) were referred for treatment because of
visual defects, and 28 pupils (.7%) were referred for treatment because of
hearing defects.
Follow-up examinations, referrals to General Practitioners, Specialist
Clinics, and to Hospital Consultants are arranged as and when necessary.
Further details of these examinations will be found later in the Report.
A staff of ten 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.
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