London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Harrow 1973
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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with suspicion by teachers and parents alike. For other children, problems
of drink, experimenting with drugs, teenage sex and pregnancies, venereal
disease, truancy, violence and vandalism and general problems of
adolescence outweigh physical problems, and the school health service is
doing little to help the teachers, the parents or the children. It might be
better value for money, if trained and experienced School Counsellors
were appointed to all Senior Schools rather than attempting to carry out
routine physical examinations on reluctant teenagers.
The number of pupils attending maintained primary and secondary schools including nursery and special schools, on re-opening in January 1973 was 32,579. The numbers attending each group of schools were as follows:-
| Boys | Girls | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary | 5,528 | 5,070 | 10,598 |
| Primary | 10,815 | 10,393 | 21,208 |
| Nursery | 235 | 211 | 446 |
| Special Schools | 182 | 145 | 327 |
| 16,760 | 15,819 | 32,579 |
Specialist Services for School Children and Students
1. Eyes
The beginnings of academic learning in the classroom inevitably
throw up eye defects and a close watch must be kept on the Primary
School child. Sweep tests are scheduled to be carried out by Clinic Nurses
at the age of 5 and 8 years but only one Keystone machine is available.
2. Ears
In order to detect hearing loss in young children sweep tests should
be carried out at the age of 5, 8 and 12 years at all schools. Teachers and
parents are also encouraged to report suspected deafness. The volume of
work has increased and a second trainee audiometrician has recently
been appointed. Cases are referred by the Audiometrician, teachers, or
from other clinics to special Audiology Clinics held at Caryl Thomas,
and Alexandra Avenue, when a Clinic doctor with specialised training
and interest in deafness, the audiometrician and the peripatetic teachers
of the deaf, work as a team. Cases requiring further investigation are
then referred to Dr. Fisch at the Neasden Audiology Clinic as in the past.