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100
The duties of the School Nurses are becoming: much more
elaborate and their responsibilities have increased, and are increasing
very considerably. Special investigation and report by the
School Nurse upon individual school children is becoming more
important, and the number of cases dealt with is increasing rapidly;
very full reports are required, and these necessitate careful preparation
and a high standard of technical (nursing and sanitary)
knowledge. In this connection also the large London General
Hospitals are seeking the co-operation of the School Medical
Service to a greater and greater extent with a view to ensuring
the best possible line of treatment for children attending as OutPatients,
and' also as In-Patients prior to admission and after discharge.
The duties of the School Nurses in East Ham are very varied
and include much specialised work in connection with treatment by
means of ultra violet radiation, the X-ray treatment of ringworm,
ophthalmic treatment, aural treatment, dental treatment, etc.,
duties, which in many areas, are performed by specially appointed
Nurses.
It seems unfortunate that no standard has been indicated by
the Board of Education in regard to the qualification and status of
School Nursess along the lines taken by the Ministry of Health
in connection with Health Visitors. There is no doubt that such
a standard would be to the advantage of the School Medical Service
generally, would certainly be a source of satisfaction to the more
highly qualified members of the Nursing Staff and would remove
any obstacle to complete co-ordination in the near future.
The County Borough of East Ham is fortunate in possessing
a very keen, efficient and well-qualified staff of School Nurses, upon
whose work has depended, to a large extent, the highly satisfactory
results obtained by the School Medical Service, both in the
direction of ensuring the adoption by the parents of the advice
given by the Medical Officers and of determining and securing for
the children the necessary preventive and curative treatment
required.