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Convalescent Home Treatment.—148 children were sent away
for convalescence during 1953. There were 7 children remaining in
convalescent homes and hospital schools on December 31st, 1953.
Tuberculosis.—The number of school children examined for
the first time during the year was 105 boys and 143 girls, of whom
31 boys and 32 girls were referred by the school medical staff, and
74 boys and 111 girls by private practitioners. 87 girls and 69 boys
were examined as contacts.
Artificial Light Treatment.—The total attendances for treatment
were 2,315.
9. PROTECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AGAINST
TUBERCULOSIS
(a) Chest X-ray Examination of Teachers on Appointment.
The position in regard to this matter was set out in the Report
for 1951, including the reasons leading to the cessation of the former
practice of requiring all newly-appointed staff (except clerical) to
undergo a chest X-ray examination.
Although the local chest clinic has been equipped with an
Odelca miniature X-ray apparatus, it has so far not proved possible
for staff to be referred as a routine.
Instead, every endeavour has been made to refer staff for chest
X-ray examination at the Mobile Mass Radiography Units and the
static unit at Finsbury, but the difficulties in such an arrangement
are obvious when compared with local facilities.
The recommendations contained in Ministry of Education Circular
No. 248—"Protection of School Children against Tuberculosis,"
previously considered by the School Management Committee,
referred to the Minister's recommendation that all teachers should
have an X-ray examination of the chest annually. The matter was
considered by the Teachers' Joint Consultative Committee in March,
1953, with an indication that the Committee for Education were
strongly in favour of the recommendation and expressed the hope
that the Teachers' Panel would join with the Committee in a joint
appeal to teachers to have such an examination. The Teachers'
Panel unanimously agreed with this proposal.
The Committee for Education also decided to make further
representations to the Local Education Authority for the reimbursement
of the travelling expenses of teachers attending Mass Radiography
Units for X-ray examination prior to appointment. The
Local Education Authority approved of this recommendation.
Every endeavour was made during 1953 to operate the recommendations
of the Ministry of Education's Circular in regard to the
initial and annual chest X-ray of all staff concerned with groups of
children.