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59
In April 1952, Circulars 248/9 were received from the Ministry
of Education, and briefly they may be summarised as follows :—
(a) Local Education Authorities are to do whatever is
practicable to implement the recommendations of the Joint
Tuberculosis Council, especially in regard to teachers and attendants
in nursery schools. X-ray examinations will depend on
local resources.
(b) Teachers and intending teachers will be required to
undergo chest x-ray examinations as from the 1st April, 1953.
The examination of other employees will be a matter for Local
Education Authorities.
(c) Annual chest x-ray examinations to be done as far as
practicable. The circulars also refer to the existing grounds for
suspension from employment, to the follow-up of cases of high
incidence amongst children, and to the fees payable for individual
examination.
(d) Non-maintained schools are being recommended to
follow the same suggestions.
2. The mass radiography facilities available in the area of the
North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board do not permit
of an annual visit to the various sanitary districts. It is therefore
a pleasure to record that an "Odelca" fitting will be provided
shortly. This fitting can be attached to the x-ray plant in use at
the Chest Clinic and will permit a modified system of mass radiography
as a static unit. It is hoped that this additional facility will
help towards the discovery of the many undiagnosed and infective
cases of tuberculosis still at large.
3. In April a conference was convened in Walthamstow by
the Trades' Council and various interested persons attended.
B.C.G. Immunisation.—This matter is referred to more fully
in the report on the School Health Services. In short, there is
participation in the Medical Research Council's trials of antituberculosis
vaccine amongst school-leavers.
Medical Examination of Staff.—During 1951, 125 members of
the staff of the County and Borough Councils, especially those
working amongst children, were referred for chest X-ray as part
of the normal medical examination on appointment or as an annual
check-up.
Contact Examinations.—In co-operation with the Chest
Physician, the aim now is for the maximum possible examination
of contacts by treating each notified case on the same lines as a
notified case of one of the major infectious diseases. To this end,