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to follow the radical alteration of the classification of schools brought
about by the most recent Education Act, nor as yet has any change been
suggested since the school-leaving age was raised.
In some of the larger schools, there are so many children to be
examined that the attendance of the medical officer at many sessions is
necessary, but at some of the smaller schools the doctor need come only
a few times. It is felt, though, to be a real advantage that it shall be
accepted that the medical officer will be present at every department of
each school some time during every term, so that even in the smaller
schools no attempt is made to complete the inspections in the one term,
but rather to spread the attendances. In this way the head teacher has
more opportunity of bringing to the notice of the school doctor any child
he wishes examined. Such an arrangement, too, enables those who are
to be kept under observation to be seen at frequent intervals.
It was not possible this year to carry out the full programme of
examinations, largely because of the absence of staff on account of sickness.
The establishment provides for the appointment of an additional
medical officer, but there is no advantage to be gained by making such
an appointment until the staff of health visitors and school nurses can
be increased, and this is proving impossible.
Of the children attending the maintained schools, 6,086 were
examined as a routine (1,408 as entrants, 1,298 at age 7, 2,201 at age 10,
1,179 as leavers), 2,972 as specials and 1,976 as re-examinations.
Section 78 of the Education Act, 1944, enables the children of nonmaintained
schools to obtain the same benefits of the school health
services including school inspections as those at maintained schools,
the procedure being initiated by the principal applying to the education
authority. As far as is known, none of the many private schools in the
district has elected to take advantage of the facilities.
TREATMENT.
Minor Ailments.
Weekly sessions are held of minor ailment clinics in six premises in
the district, namely, the clinics at The Broadway, Elmwood Avenue,
Honeypot Lane, Chandos Sports Pavilion, Alexandra Avenue and the
Methodist Church Hall, Love Lane, Pinner. The medical officer is present
as well as the school nurse. He prescribes the treatment of those attending
suffering from minor ailments. At the clinic, too, he will keep under
supervision those children referred for observation, while in addition at
this clinic he will see those who need a more detailed examination than can
be carried out on the occasion of the routine school medical inspection.
At some of the clinic buildings, the nurse attends on one or more other
occasions in the week so as to give intermediate treatment to those
attending.
While children because of the comparative infrequency with which
they need to attend the minor ailment clinic can reasonably be expected
to travel greater distances than those of the mothers bringing their
children regularly to the infant welfare centres, there is undoubtedly
a limit to distances and it is probable that many children at school are
not attending the present clinics who possibly would avail themselves