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otherwise have been noted. The other principle involves the selection of certain children who are
put forward by parents, teachers, social workers, health visitors, etc., for inspection and assumes
that all the other children are satisfactory. This ensures that those selected children have a very
thorough overhaul and great time can be spent in discussion with the parent and other interested
parties. Unfortunately, the assumption that none of the other children requires examination is
unsupported. Many minor defects can escape the notice of unskilled observers.
Among the 8,922 routine medical inspections completed, a total of 1,945 defects were
discovered; 620 needing or receiving treatment and 1,325 requiring further observation. This
proportion of defects to routine medical inspections remains exactly the same as for 1969. A
summary of the defects found at routine medical inspections in 1970 has been recorded on Table C.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
A Local Education Authority has the power to ensure that the person or clothing of any
pupil, in attendance at one of its maintained schools, is not infested with vermin or is not in a
foul condition. The Authority may for this purpose, authorise a Medical Officer to cause examinations
of the persons and clothing of pupils in attendance at any or all of its maintained schools,
whenever in his or her opinion, such examinations are necessary in the interests of cleanliness.
The examination will be made by a person authorised by the Authority, and if the person or clothing
of a pupil is found to be infested with vermin or in a foul condition, an officer of the Authority
may serve on the parent of the pupil, a notice requiring him to cause the person and clothing of
the pupil to be cleansed within the time stated on the notice. This notice should give at least
twenty-four hours in which the parent can cleanse the child, otherwise the cleansing will be
carried out by the Authority. If an order is made by a Medical Officer or if the cleansing is requested
by a parent, it is the duty of the Authority to secure that the cleansing is carried out at suitable
premises by suitable persons with suitable appliances. An order by a Medical Officer will be
sufficient to authorise an officer of the Authority to convey the pupil to the suitable premises,
detain him there, and cause his person and clothing to be cleansed.
After the cleansing has been carried out, if the person or clothing of the pupil is again, owing
to neglect, found to be infested with vermin or in a foul condition at any time while he is in
attendance at a school maintained by the Local Education Authority, the parent will be liable on
summary conviction to a fine. If a Medical Officer suspects that the person or clothing of a pupil
is verminous or in a foul condition, but action for the examination or cleansing cannot be taken
immediately, he or she may, if it is considered necessary either in the interest of the pupil or of
the other pupils, direct that the pupil be excluded from attendance at school until such action
is taken.
The London Borough of Hillingdon in implementing its powers under Section 54 has adopted
the following procedure.
Primary Schools
A full inspection for cleanliness of person and clothing be conducted each autumn term in
every Primary School, and that re-visits to schools be made until an inspection of all the children
on roll at each school has been completed.
If after complete inspection:
(a) not one case of infestation is found, then no further routine inspection for cleanliness
be carried out until the following autumn term;
(b) one or more cases of infestation are found, then a further full inspection for cleanliness
be conducted during the following spring term. Should there be a further case or cases
of infestation found during the spring term, then another full inspection will be conducted
during the summer term. If no cases of infestation are found during the spring term, the
next routine inspection will take place in the following autumn term.
Secondary Schools
The first, second and third year children be inspected exactly on the same principles as
outlined for the Primary Schools.
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