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65
SCHOOL HYGIENE
Under Section 54 of the Education Act 1944 the local authority is empowered to authorise examinations
of persons and clothing of pupils at school and whenever necessary to take appropriate action to
secure the cleansing of person and clothing of pupils.
School Nurses make regular inspections in schools and advise and encourage the children in
personal hygiene and appearance.

WORK OF HEALTH VISITOR AND SCHOOL NURSE
The work of the health visitors and school nurses is still mainly concerned with school medical
inspections and health surveys. A large proportion of routine work is delegated to clinic nurses (State Registered
Nurses but not qualified Health Visitors) in order to release the Health Visitor for more skilled tasks.
During 1966 the scheme for skin testing for tuberculosis was extended to cover all school entrants
and the administration of tests was carried out by the nursing staff.
The programme of health education continued to expand, more schools were visited during the
year and it is hoped that more attention will be given to this aspect of the work in the future.
PROTECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS
Vaccination against tuberculosis continued to be offered to thirteen-year-old pupils attending both
maintained and independent schools.
After the parents consent has been obtained a simple skin test is administered to determine whether
or not the child needs protection. If the skin reacts to the test it usually means the child has developed some
immunity, but all such cases are investigated at the Mass X-ray unit or chest clinic.
During 1966 the testing of school entrants normally at the age of 5 years was extended to the
northern half of the borough, in all cases where a reaction is noted the child is referred to the chest clinic.
The table below gives the number of children tested and vaccinated.
Leavers
(i) Number of children whose parents were approached 4,088
(ii) Number of children from (i) whose parents consented 3,418—83.6%
(iii) Number of those in (ii) negative to Heaf Gun Tests 2,419—70.8%
(iv) Number of those in (iii) B.C.G. vaccinated 2,388—98.7%
(v) Percentage of vaccination to (i) above 58.4%
Entrants
(i) Number Skin tested 3,160
(ii) Number positive 354—11.2%
(iii) Number negative 2,706—85.7%
CONVALESCENT TREATMENT
Forty-five children were recommended for recuperative holidays under Section 28 of the National
Health Service Act, 1946, for which the Education Authority accepted responsibility. These arrangements
are made on the recommendation of the School Medical Officer in respect of children who have been found
to be in poor health or suffering from a disability for which a holiday is considered to be an essential part
of the recuperative treatment. In no way are they intended to provide annual holidays for children whose
parents are unable to do so.