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95
COUNTY BOROUGH OF EAST HAMEDUCATION COMMITTEE
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE EUDCATION COMMITTEE.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The year has been one pointing considerable progress in the various
activities of the School Health Service.
After protracted negotiations agreement has been reached with the
Regional Hospital Board on the conduct of the Specialist Clinics which under
the new arrangements continue to be held in Local Authority premises whilst
served by the Board's Consultants.
In theory, the clinics can be regarded as extensions of the hospitals
out-patients departments, whilst in practice the 'priority groups' they
serve retain the advantages and privilege of not having to attend the
various hospitals to obtain consultation and a good deal of specialist
treatment.
The premises, services and non-medical staff are provided by the
Council, and the professional staff and equipment by the Regional Hospital
Board. The day-to-day administration rests with the School Medical
Officer, and such periodic statistics and reports as are required, are
rendered to the Board's officers.
With the expanded school population It is hoped to extend the scope
of the Ophthalmic Clinic by the introduction of an associated Orthoptic
Clinic, for it is known that many of our children wait long periods before
treatment for squint can be commenced In the orthoptic clinics attached
to the hospitals.
In like manner expansion of the Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic is envisaged
to cope with the steady flow of referrals including those schoolchildren
found to need further investigation after surveys by the Group Audiometric
team.
The influx of children into the schools concomitant with the post-war
rise in the birth rate, has made it increasingly difficult with the available
staff, to carry out the routine medical Inspections required under the
Education Act and the Council's regulations.
Consideration will have to be given to the proposal to omit one of the
routine inspections,, It is possible the 'fit for entry to school' examination
could be organized to take the place of that carried out soon after
admission to school. This would have several distinct advantages to the
pupils a number of whom have not had a medical 'check-up' for several years,
and save doctors, parents' and schooling time by merging the two examinations,
which in most instances are held within a short time of each other.
In my opinion the 'fitness for school' examination should be most
searching and comprehensive, and should enquire not only into the physical
state of the child but ensure the normality of speech, hearing, vision,
mental condition and locomotion.
Detractors of the school health service should take heed of the part
played in the fight against tuberculosis. Every care is taken to protect
the children against Infection by annual X-ray of all persons, teachers and
others, who come in contact with the scholars in the schools. Known 'pupil
contacts' are segregated whenever deemed necessary by the Consultant to the
Chest Clinic and offered B.C.G. vaccination when practicable. Should infection
with tuberculosis manifest itself in a child or member of the staff,