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of the inability to hold inspections on their premises. The routine medical inspections for some
19 schools are at present held in clinics; some of these are fortunate in having clinic premises in
the grounds of the school; Grange Park, Lady Bankes, Oak Farm, Minet, and although this presents
few problems in arranging for children to attend the clinic, the teacher is not involved with the
parent or doctor as closely as might be hoped. In other schools, the clinic is situated at some
distance away, providing little chance of busy teacher and doctor ever meeting. It is essential that
medical inspections be carried out in the school where a quiet, warm, well-lit room can be supplied
for the use of the doctor, and a place where parents can be accommodated with their children in
some degree of comfort whilst conferring with the nurse in attendance and awaiting their turn
for inspection.
The 13,459 routine medical inspections produced a total of 3,809 defects, i.e. 28%. 1,363 of
these defects required treatment and 2,446 needed further observation. This is a somewhat higher
proportion than last year's figures when 1,945 defects were discovered in 8,922 routine medical
inspections—17.3% of the total. A summary of the defects found at routine medical inspections
in 1971 has been recorded on Table C, page 164.
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 examination
of the person or 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 or clothing of the person to be
cleansed within the time stated on the notice. This notice should give at least 24 hours in which
the parent can attend to the child, otherwise the cleansing will be carried out by the Authority.
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 attending
a school maintained by the Local Authority, the parent will be liable upon 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 and 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 pupils or of 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 persons and clothing be conducted each Autumn term in
every school and that revisits to schools be made until an inspection of all the children on roll at
each school has been completed. If after completing inspection—
(a) Not one case of infestation is found, then no further routine inspection for cleanliness
will be carried out until the following Autumn term;
(b) One or more cases of infestation are found, then a full inspection for cleanliness be
conducted during the following Spring term. If there should 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 to be inspected on exactly the same principles as
outlined for the primary schools.
The cleanliness and inspection of the fourth year children will be carried out at the same time
as a routine medical inspection, which takes place during the school year in which a pupil attains
the age of 15 years.
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