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82
REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE
SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.
Arranged according to the Suggestions made by the
Board of Education, November. 1925.
1. STAFF.
The whole-time Medical Staff consists of the Medical Officer of
Health (who is also School Medical Officer and in this capacity
supervises the work of the School Medical Service), three Assistant
School Medical Officers, one of whom is engaged in Ophthalmic and
also Child Welfare work for the Council, a part-time Ophthalmic
Surgeon, a part-time Orthopaedic Surgeon, four local Practitioners
who undertake Nose and Throat work, a whole-time Dental
Surgeon, five School Nurses and a Dentist's Assistant.
2. CO-ORDINATION.
(a) As the work of the Ante-Natal Clinic and Child Welfare
Centre is undertaken by one of the Assistant School Medical
Officers—under the supervision of the Medical Officer of Health—
it follows that there is close co-ordination between this branch
of the Health Service and the School Medical Service.
(b) There are no Nursery Schools in the Area.
(c) The care of debilitated children under school age is undertaken
by the Welfare Centres in the Town. Dental and Orthopaedic
cases are referred to the special clinics, swabs are examined at
the Municipal Laboratory, and Virol, Parrish's Food, etc., are
supplied to the necessitous cases at reduced cost. Massage is
given by a voluntary Masseuse.
3. THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE IN RELATION TO
PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
School Hygiene.—The cleanliness of the schools is well maintained,
the surroundings being quite good, with one or two exceptions
where the buildings are quite close to the main roads, making
for noise and dust.
The playgrounds are tar paved and have play sheds. There
are in all cases receptacles for refuse.
All the schools are well ventilated and lighted. In the older
schools the warming is by means of open fires, the newer schools
having Central Heating on the low pressure system. The heating