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58
sideration, in order that the full time of two Nurses be
available for maintaining the present activities and progress
of the work.
A brief summary of the work of the School Nurse is
set out under the heading " Following Up " on page 71.
From my Annual Report for 1924, I quote the
following:— It should be noted that the total time
amounting to that of one School Nurse only is allotted to
the School Medical Service, and that during the year it has
been necessary for the Senior Nurse to put in constant long
hours of overtime. It becomes self-evident that no further
extension in the activities of Medical or Dental work can
be entertained under these conditions."
During this year the strain has become more acute in
spite of constant overtime and " home work."
It must be remembered that in December an additional
Dental Session was commenced, and an Orthopaedic Scheme
inaugurated, which will throw further work on the Staff.
I fear that unless additional assistance is forthcoming
it will be impossible to efficiently carry on the duties or
make further progress towards a complete School Medical
and Dental Service.
CO-ORDINATION.
The School Medical Officer being also Medical Officer of
Health, and the Nurses' duties being arranged so that each
Nurse gains experience in all branches of both School and
Maternity and Child Welfare Work, secures that the same
Staff looks after infants both before and after they reach
school age, and makes for efficient working between the
various ramifications of the Public Health Services.
Medical Record Cards of those infants who have
attended the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres are
transferred to the School Medical Service as soon as these
infants attain the age of five.
Close touch is kept between the School Attendance
Officers and the School Medical Department.
The Office is situated at the Clinic, "Elnifieid,"
London Road, and during the year has been put into direct
telephonic communication with the Public Health
Department.
In a compact Borough such as Kingston-upon-Thames,
I consider centralisation of Offices, Clinics, Welfare Centres,
etc., an ideal to be aimed at for efficient health administration.