View report page

155
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
I would refer readers to my comments on the School Health service
in my opening letter on page 4.
The population of the borough, estimated by the Registrar General,
was 145,240 at mid-1967.
In January 1968 the number of pupils on the registers of
maintained schools was 18,367 made up as follows:
Primary Schools 10,289
Secondary Schools 7,797
Nursery Schools 78
Special Schools 203
In addition it is estimated that 2,876 children attend independent
schools registered under Part III of the Education Act 1944, and approximately
750 attend direct grant and independent schools which are served
by the school health service.
The number of maintained schools in the borough on 31st December
1967 was 54: 14 secondary, 37 primary, 1 nursery, 2 special. One direct
grant and one independent school were included in the school health service
under the terms of Section 78 of the Education Act 1944.
Staff
The Medical Officer of Health and his Deputy are also Principal
and Deputy Principal School Medical Officer and were assisted by two senior
and three other medical officers. The services of sessionally employed
medical officers are also used to maintain the programme of fixed appointments
at clinics and as reliefs for leave and sickness.
The health visiting staff consisting of a superintendent health
visitor, a group adviser, and twenty-one health visitors carry out the
functions of school nurses, devoting about 20 per cent of their time to
duties in connection with the school health service.
Sessionally employed state registered nurses work with medical
officers at medical inspections in secondary schools, immunisation sessions
and general medical clinics, and are responsible for vision testing of
thirteen year old pupils.