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(d) The School Medical Service is in close touch with certain
voluntary associations and societies on behalf of the welfare of
individual children.
The Invalid Children's Aid Association and the Invalid and
Crippled Children's Society notify the School Medical Officer of
children coming under their notice who require new or altered
Surgical Appliances. The Education Committee assists in the
purchase of instruments or alterations to same.
These Societies also reported cases requiring Convalescent
treatment. During the year, 463 school children were sent away
for periods of convalescence. Assistance in the purchase or repair
of Surgical Appliances was rendered to 26 children.
I am also indebted to the National Society for the Prevention
of Crueltv to Children and the Central Association for Mental
Welfare, as well as to the Almoners of a number of voluntary
Hospitals for their valuable help.
(e) In addition to the voluntary hospitals (not only of West
Ham, but of London) there arc a number of other voluntary bodies
who do very valuable work in regard to the health of the children.
(13) Blind, Deaf, Defective and Epileptic Children.
(a) The returns of children falling under this heading are
obtained from two sources, viz,., by Head Teachers and the School
Attendance Department.
These cases are notified as they arise and are followed up
by a Nurse specially detailed for this work. The children are
also examined by the Chief Assistant School Medical Officer to
ascertain their fitness for school, or otherwise. Some are returned
to the Elementary school, many are recommended for admission
to the Special Schools, but the majority are found to be unfit for
school attendance.
The permanent out-of-school cases are visited from time to
time by the Nurse detailed for the purpose'and any changes in
the condition justifying re-examination are then brought to light.
There is also an annual census taken at the end of the year
of all exceptional children submitted by Head Teachers. These
are examined bv the medical staff, and cases considered unfit for
an ordinary school are referred for further examination to the
Chief Assistant School Medical Officer.
A number of children have been placed in various Institutions,
and the Local Authority are responsible for their maintenance.
(b) A Special Nurse is employed in following up all mentally
defective children not in school. All out-of-school cases are
periodically medically examined to ascertain their fitness for
admission to Special Schools.
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