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96
County Borough of East Ham Education Committee
To the Chairman and Members of the Education Committee.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present my Annual Report on the School Health
Service for the year 1947.
The Education Act, 1944, envisaged certain interim provisions
in the School Health Services which would have to be reviewed
and revised with the coming into operation of the National Health
Service Act on July 5th, 1948. These temporary arrangements
with General and Special Hospitals, Clinics and Voluntary bodies,
took some time to complete, and it could be said that in 1947 they
worked smoothly and efficiently within the general organisation of
the School Health Service.
Details of these measures for a comprehensive diagnostic and
therapeutic service are enumerated elsewhere : it suffices here to
say that no child under our care suffered for the lack of expert
attention, and the free and comprehensive facilities placed at the
disposal of the school-children were greatly appreciated and
employed.
It is apparent that after "the appointed day," the treatment
of the sick school-child will form part of the family doctor's duty,
for every child will have been placed on the "list" of the practitioner
of choice of the parent or guardian.
It would be folly, however, to destroy or set aside the system
which has been carefully built up for the diagnosis and treatment
of sickness, minor ailments, ophthalmic defects, and ear, nose and
throat disorders, which entail a minimum loss of schooling time and
wastage of parental effort.
It is anticipated, therefore, that agreement between the
Ministries of Education and Health will enable our School Health
Service to continue uninterruptedly to give the best and most
efficient medical attention, but some modification of administrative