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114
Owing to the continued shortage of part-time Dental
Officers it was only possible to carry out a limited number
of inspections of pupils at school.
VISITS.- (a) The Public Health Inspectors made
1, 190 visits to maintained schools, (l) to enquire as to the
milk supplies and (Z) to inspect the sanitary arrangements.
(b) School nurses made (i) 137 visits to schools (118
for general hygiene and 19 for head inspections) when 15,766
individual children were examined and 18, 138 actual examinations
were made, (ii) 3,313 home visits in regard to
treatment recommended, and (iii) 994 home visits to cases
of minor infectious diseases.
(c) Dr. O'Connor Wilson visited all primary schools
during the latter part of the year with a view to testing the
views of Head Teachers on carrying out a Posture and Foot
Survey in all schools with an age group of 9 to 11 years. This
suggestion was well received and we are to commence this
survey early in the year I960.
I have continued my own regular visit to schools in
an endeavour to become more fully acquainted with schools
and Head Teachers and have set myself the target of conducting
one routine medical inspection in each school. I am
now just over half-way through this programme which must
depend on the time I have available.
A further innovation during 1959 was the regular
attendance of Health Visitors at Case Conferences held at the
Child Guidance Clinic and there is now a good liaison with
that service and the Health Visitors. In some instances the
General Practitioner is also able to attend the Child Guidance
Case Conferences.
(d) A separate report is furnished by the Chief Public
Health Inspector on the general subject of hygiene conditions
in schools.
DEFECTIVE HEARING.- An Amplivox audiometer
was purchased in January 1959 and Dr. Gross attended a
three-day course on the use of this machine and the testing
of hearing. As a result, the majority of children found to
have defective hearing were tested-the more complex cases
being referred to the Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon. This has
saved much unnecessary referral to London hospitals for this
purpose.