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2.—CO-ORDINATION.
The administrative work of the School Medical Service is carried out in the Health
Department under the supervision of the School Medical Officer who is also Medical Officer of
Health with charge of the Council's scheme for Maternity and Child Welfare.
Dr. Roberts and Dr. Freeman are engaged in school medical work as well as the other
health services. This applies also to the nursing and clerical staff, so that co-ordination of all the
services is complete.
The popularity and success of our Maternity and Child Welfare work continues to increase,
and whereas in 1926 there were two Centres each open for two afternoon sessions per week, there
are now four Centres with a total of ten sessions weekly. Children may attend these Centres until
they reach school age, and upon the recommendation of the Medical Officers, may, before they
reach school age, attend the School Clinics for treatment of visual and dental defects and minor
ailments. X-ray treatment for Ringworm can also be arranged.
The service of the health of pre-school children is, at presnt, entirely on a voluntary basis.
They come to the Infant Welfare Centres as a result of the good work done there, but even there
it falls very far short of what is in the interests of the children.
Personally, I see no hope for adequately dealing with the two to five years age group which
provides us with many untreated defects, except through Nursery Schools, where with compulsory
attendance goes compulsory medical inspection.
3.—THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE IN RELATION TO
PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
School Hygiene.
The School buildings and sanitary arrangements are periodically inspected, and a complete
survey of the schools is made from time to time. Every school in the district is visited at least
twice a year by a Medical Officer.
During the year under review however there were no special efforts made for critical
reporting on the matters under the headings detailed in the memorandum Form 6M. (Schedule)
from the Board of Education, issued as a guidance for the Reports of School Medical Officers on
the year's work.
It may be stated however that there are no official arrangements for drying children's
clothes or boots other than spreading them in the recognised cloakrooms.
4.—MEDICAL INSPECTION.
The age groups selected for inspection are those laid down by the Board of Education,
viz :—
1. All new entrants (5 year old children).
2. Second Age Group (8 year old children).
3. Third Age Group (12 year old children).
4. Other Routine Inspections.
Children attending the Spring Grove Central School have been examined yearly.
Every school in the Borough has been visited twice by a Medical Officer during the year—
once for a routine medical inspection, and subsequently for the re-examination of children who
had been found to need treatment or observation.
The total number of routine medical inspections carried out during the year was 4,224,
which is the largest number ever inspected in one year by this Authority.
It has been necessary to engage extra medical assistance regularly throughout the year, and
the pressure in all other sections of School Medical Work, particularly in the School Clinics, has
continued unabated.
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