London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Sutton 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton]
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School Health Service
Periodic Medical Inspections
During 1970 periodic medical inspections were carried out on :
(i) all new entrants to school
(ii) all pupils in their eighth year
(iii) all school leavers
Selective medical examinations were carried out on all children on entry to High
Schools. The parents of many of the children requested medical examination whether selected
or not, as a result of which about 80% of all the children in the age group were examined.
Preliminary arrangements have been made for selective medical examination for
children in theireighth year to commence in 1971.
In addition to periodic medical inspections pupils have vision test at 5, 8, 11, 13 and
14½years and a colour vision test at the age of 11 years.
Pupils aged 6 years have screening test for hearing carried out by an Audiometrician.
Special medical examinations and re-examinations
Pupils are examined when necessary following periodic medical inspection or when
referred for examination by the head teacher or school nurse and at the request of parents. These
pupils are examined either at the school or at general medical clinics.
The total number of re-examinations in 1970 was 3,048 (1,184). Full details of
defects found at periodic and special medical inspections are given in the appendix to this report.
The following table shows the number of handicapped children attending primary and high schools as at 31/12/70 :-
| (i) | Epilepsy | 56 |
| (ii) | Heart defect | 22 |
| (iii) | Hearing defect | 35 |
| (iv) | Diabetic | 19 |
| (v) | Physically handicapped | 59 |
| (vi) | Partially sighted | 8 |
| (vii) | Other handicaps | 3 |
Personal Hygiene
Routine hygiene inspection of pupils is carried out either at the request of the
head teacher or at the school medical officer's or school nurse's discretion. Regular hygiene
inspections each term have not been necessary at any school during 1970.
The total number of inspections carried out was 4,676 (8,261) and the number
of children found to be infested was 83 (99)
Minor Ailments
The principal minor ailments treated at general medical clinics are diseases of the
skin and ear and external disease of the eyes. One of the school medical officers has specialised
in the treatment of diseases of the skin particularly the treatment of verrucae and many cases
are referred to her by general medical practitioners.
The total number of pupils treated for minor ailments, excluding skin diseases,
in 1970 was 169 (222). The total number of pupils treated for skin diseases was 284 (292).
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