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93
As from 6th August, 1946, milk in school has been supplied free of
charge in accordance with the Provision of Free Milk Regulations, 1946.
In October, 1958, 20,163 children, were receiving milk in school.
Provision of Baths.— Shower baths are installed at Beal. County High
Boys, Barking Abbey Grammar, Caterham, Dane. Fairlop Boys and Loxford
Secondary Schools.
Work done by the N.S.P.C.C.— The following 32 cases were
investigated:—
(1) Neglect 21
(2) Ill-treatment cases 2
(3) Other cases 9
(Four cases were reported from the Public Health Department
28 were reported from other sources for general neglect).
74 children (47 boys and 27 girls) were involved, 49 being of school
age. In addition to this work, 121 supervision visits were paid to different
cases, some of which were made to those reported during the previous year.
The Invalid Children's Aid Association.— 4 llford children were given
free holidays, 1 was placed in a Convalescent Home by the Association and
social workers carried out case work involving 28 other children.
The Health Visitor and the School Nurse— Change of Emphasis.
Hygiene Inspections in Schools and Follow-up of "Unsatisfactory"
Children.— Following a change of emphasis, as from the Summer Term 1958,
routine Head Inspections in schools were abolished and hygiene inspections
instituted.
The Health Visitors visit the schools at the beginning of each term and
the school staff bring forward cases for discussion and in return the Health
Visitor from her records discusses cases and gives details which she feels
they should know. Once a year the Health Visitor should be given the
opportunity of seeing each child.
Generally speaking this innovation was well received by the Head
Teachers and many social problems were discussed to the mutual benefit of
the schools and the School Health Service.
As co-operation between the schools and Health Visitors increases it is
thought that the new scheme should prove to be a useful venture.
The above scheme has also been found to be of benefit in the follow-up
of those cases found at routine medical inspection to be " unsatisfactory
for the Health Visitor has the opportunity of discussing the condition with
Head Teachers and in many cases school meals are recommended.
All "unsatisfactory" cases are re-examined by the school medical
officer. In many cases nutriments are supplied or recommended and the case
seen again at varying periods of one, three or six months or less frequently
on the decision of the doctor.
It will be appreciated that in quite a number of such cases, because
of environmental factors, no treatment or action is likely to bring forth a
completely " satisfactory " condition and only the assistance most suited to
the needs can be offered.
Chiropody.— Unfortunately there is no chiropody clinic under Local
Authority control in llford and any cases requiring treatment have either
to be referred privately or to hospitals. The establishment of such a clinic
in llford has long since been advocated and is fast becoming a necessity.