Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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(13) Co-operation of Parents.
The co-operation of parents is an essential factor in the
success of every undertaking by the School Medical Service. The
attitude of the parents on the whole is increasingly helpful, and
they now realise that the School Medical Service is functioning
purely and solely in the interests and future well-being of their
children.
During the year parents or guardians attended the School
Medical Inspections in the case of 6,995 boys and 7,012 girls,
making a combined average attendance of 79 per cent, as regards
the Elementary Schools.
The number of refusals to examinations is not great considering
the number of children examined. By far the most common
reason for refusal is "We have our own doctor," the other
usual reason given being that the "Parent cannot attend."
Occasionally, parents bearing in mind the possibility of having
to purchase glasses, invent excuses such as "the child was
confused at the time of examination," or unfamiliar with the style
of letters used in the preliminary Vision Test.
The following Table gives a list of Schools and Departments from which "refusals " were received during 1927:—
School. | Bovs | Girls | Infants |
---|---|---|---|
Elmhurst Road | 1 | — | 2 |
Shipman Road | — | — | 1 |
St. Antony's | 2 | — | 1 |
Abbey | 1 | — | — |
Harold Road | 1 | 1. | — |
Beckton Road | — | 1 | — |
Holborn Road | 1 | — | 1 |
Bridge Road | 1 | — | — |
West Ham Park | 1 | — | — |
Silvertown | — | 1 | 1 |
Upton Lane | — | 1 | 1 |
Water Lane | — | — | 1 |
Godwin Road | — | 2 | 2 |
Maryland Point | — | — | — |
Hilda Road | — | — | 1 |
New City Road | 1 | — | — |
Odessa Road | — | — | 2 |
Colegrave Road | — | — | 1 |
Hallsville | — | 2 | 2 |
St. James | 1 | 1 | — |
Credon Road | 1 | — | 3 |
St. Margaret's | 1 | 2 | — |
Rosetta Road | — | — | 1 |
Balaam Street | — | — | 1 |
Salway Place | — | — | 1 |
Upton Cross | — | — | 3 |
Regents Lane | — | 1 | — |
Totals | 12 | 13 | 25 |