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85
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The main function of the school health service is to promote the
health and welfare of school children in order that they may derive the
maximum benefit from the education provided. The basic "instrument"
used to achieve this end is the medical inspection of children. These
inspections have a two-fold purpose:
(1) To detect actual defects present, and
(2) To elicit signs indicative of developing physical defect or
emotional disturbances, which could interfere with a child's
educational progress.
The staff involved in the school health service also deal with the
children in the pre-school stage of the personal health service thus
providing a continuity in care beginning in the pre-school phase and
continuing on into the period of school life.
MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Periodic medical inspections are carried out during the child's school
life under Section 48 of the Education Act 1944. This section makes it the
duty of a local education authority to provide for the medical inspection
at appropriate intervals of pupils in attendance at any school maintained
by them and the authority may require the parent of any pupil in attendance
at such a school to submit the pupil for medical inspection in
accordance with arrangements made by the authority. Although the Act
itself provides a legal obligation on the parent to submit the child for
examination, the parent is free should he so desire to refuse treatment.