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At the end of the year no new applications for this service had been received from
the proprietors of independent schools in the Borough.
General.
I have received the following comments on the working of the school health service
from Dr. Nora Senior, one of our medical officers:—
"Looking back over the year the numbers of overweight children seem to be
increasing; on the other hand the general public do seem to be becoming more conscious
of the disadvantages of overweight, even if it is only that father cannot get a
life-insurance for this reason! They are still rather inclined to say his or her father is
"big"— indeed all the family are "big" and want to dismiss the problem thus.
I have very much enjoyed the counselling of families where some child's problem
—such as diurnal enuresis—has introduced a family problem, and it has been possible
to resolve this; or the physically handicapped producing maternal and family distress
such as a ? E.S.N, achondroplasia. Discussion with the members of the child guidance
team without actually referring is often very helpful.
Occasionally it has been distressing to pick up an untreated defect in an older
child; for example a twelve year old boy with an undescended testicle found recently.
He had been referred at about 6 years of age for surgical opinion but action was of
course deferred and he failed to keep his next hospital appointment. No further
appointments were made and no school medical examination until entry into secondary
school. This has of course now been followed up.
Immunisation seems to be at a satisfactory level; the majority now are fully protected;
though still quite a few children over 11 or 12 have not had a course of tetanus
injections and they are vigorously encouraged to have this.
Occasionally only, a parent resists all advice and will not have their child protected
under any circumstances, sometimes for sincere reasons, sometimes simply "don't believe
in it" though the latter is a very infrequent excuse now".
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