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5
To the Chairman and Members of the
Walthamstow Committee for Education.
I beg to present in the pages following, a report on the School
Health Service in the Excepted District of Walthamstow during
1954.
The report is largely routine in nature but I would offer the
following comments.
There were several changes in medical staffing resulting in
considerable loss of continuity in medical supervision. Uncleanliness
again established a new low record but even so, 235 individual
children were found to be infested. Many of these were "chronics "
from sub-standard or problem families.
In March, Dr. A. T. Wynne, F.D.S., a medical and dental
officer of the Ministry of Education, inspected the dental services
in Walthamstow. A report was subsequently received from the
Ministry and became the basis of a discussion with representatives
of the County Education Committee.
The report referred to the need to provide individual surgeries
at the Central Clinic at the Town Hall and the necessary work is
to be carried out during 1955 by the erection of half-glazed metal
partitions. The provision of a Recovery Room and Patients'
Lavatory was recommended at the Guildsway Clinic but these
items are being deferred in view of the proposed erection of the
nearby Priory Court Health Services Clinic during 1955. When
completed, the Guildsway Clinic will be removed to the new
Health Services Clinic.
The Consultant Clinics in regard to Cardiac, Ear, Nose and
Throat, Ophthalmic, Orthoptic, Pediatric and Psychiatric defects,
continued as in previous years. The Consultants in Charge have
contributed interesting reports on the work of the clinics. Family
doctors were advised of the findings and treatment recommended.
Protection of school children against tuberculosis was along
the lines reported in previous years with the addition of B.C.G.
vaccination of school leavers. Other measures carried on from
last year included chest X-ray examination of teachers on appointment,
mass radiography examinations, participation in the B.C.G.
trials of the Medical Research Council and the tuberculin jelly
testing of school entrants.
The incidence of infectious disease was smaller in total but
larger in respect of measles and bacillary dysentery. The latter
condition affected one group of schools quite severely, and the outbreak
served to emphasise once again the need for strict personal
hygiene, i.e., the washing of hands after the use of the water closet.