London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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East Ham 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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77
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 1948.
As was anticipated in this foreword last year, the interim
provisions of the Education Act, 1944, have proved a great buffer
to the National Health Service Act in providing continuous and
adequate medical supervision of all school children under the care
of this Authority.
All the problems that have arisen, inseparable from such
sweeping legislation, have not yet been solved. The interlocking
of the Regional Hospital Board Specialist Service with the School
Health Service is not yet completed, and in regard to the newly
established Child Guidance Clinic, the Local Authority virtually
have to make their own arrangements for the provision of psychiatric
specialists to carry out the necessary therapy and supervision.
The general practitioner too, still stands somewhat bewildered
at the cross roads. Is the School Health doctor to direct selected
cases of abnormality or illness to the family doctor for further
treatment, or to act himself in conjunction with the hospitals,
specialist services and dispensary at his disposal ? Is the family
doctor already too overburdened to undertake this added load of
responsibility ? One thing is certain, whilst the question is still
sub judice, the children will not be allowed to suffer by any
indecision and we will assuredly keep the general practitioner well
informed of what is happening to these particular patients on his
lists. It is further anticipated a system of close co-operation
between hospitals, Local Authorities and general practitioners now
under discussion, will soon be brought into being.
Reference has already been made to the establishment of a
Child Guidance Clinic as an integral part of the School Health
Service. On the educational side this should supply a long felt
need in vocational guidance, psychological assessment and assist
the teacher in breaking down some emotional and personality