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14
The School Nurses continue to visit all cases of non-notihable
infectious disease, and, as has been pointed out in previous years,
this work takes up a considerable part of the nurses' visiting time
and when the number of cases is large the other work suffers to
some extent.
As usual in cases of Diphtheria, all home contacts have been
swabbed, and in cases where it was thought that the infection
might be in the school, all school contacts have also been examined.
The successful campaign in regard to immunisation against
Diphtheria has been continued during the year, and a full report
of this work will appear in my Annual Report as Medical Officer
of Health.
7.-FOLLOWING UP.
Every possible care is taken that no child requiring treatment
shall be allowed to continue without it. Parents are notified in
writing of all physical defects discovered in their children during
routine medical inspection, and those parents who take advantage
of our invitation and attend the inspection, receive verbal advice
also. A special "Following-up" card is then made out, and one
of the School Nurses visits the home and explains how treatment
can be obtained. Further visits are paid from time to time as may
be necessary.
Nurses paid 1205 visits in this connection during the year.
The most difficult feature of this work is the wilful neglect
of certain parents whose obstinacy fails to respond to persuasion.
Such cases have to be referred to the Committee, who generally
decide to pass them on to the National Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children.
The following is a list of the School Nurses' duties, with brief
statistics relating to their activities during the year under review.
DUTIES.
1. Attend Routine Medical Inspections at schools with the
Medical Officer, and assist in weighing and measuring children, etc.
2. Attend Re inspections at schools with the Medical Officer.
3. " Following-up " as outlined above.
4. Attend Eye Clinics.
5. Attend Minor Ailments Inspection Clinics with Medical
Officer.