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HYGIENE OF SCHOOL PREMISES
Following the practice of recent years, the Assistant School Medical Officers
conducted a review of the hygiene of each school at the completion of their periodic
medical inspection. Copies of their reports, with any observations by the School Medical
Officer, are supplied concurrently to the Chief Education Officer and the Borough Engineer,
so that the latter can consider any recommendations involving structural work. These
reviews serve the purpose of drawing attention to any new matters requiring consideration
which may have arisen during the year, and also of "keeping alive" any improvements which
can only be implemented by inclusion in long-term plans.
During the year 63 reports were made and dealt with in this way.
THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL NURSES
The Council's policy of filling all future vacancies in the School Nursing Service
by Health Visitors trained under the Council's sponsored student scheme was continued.
During the year one Student Health Visitor commenced an approved course of training under
the auspices of the Education Committee with the object of taking an appointment on the
school nursing establishment. She will eventually be engaged, like the Health Visitors
appointed by the Health Committee, in combined duties in the School Health and Maternity
and Child Welfare Departments.
NUTRITION. Nutritional surveys were carried out on the same basis as in previous
years, and occupied a substantial proportion of the school nurses time.
The Ministry of Education Form 10b M (Subsidiary School Medical Record) was used
for all new pupils with the addition on the reverse side of a height and weight chart which
enables the entries to be made both graphically and in figures.
During the year under review 28,899 children were included in these surveys (against
20,809 in 1951). Thirty-two cases were referred to the medical officers for further
consideration of their nutritional state (against 9 for the previous year), but none was
found to be suffering from malnutrition. This is the third year in succession in which
this gratifying result has obtained.
NUTRITION SURVEYS
Number of inspections 28,899
Referred to school doctors (nutritional grounds) 32
Referred to school doctors (other conditions):-
Scabies Nil
Skin diseases 4
Ear defects 1
Other conditions 48
Total 53
CLEANLINESS. Routine cleanliness surveys are conducted each term, and so far as
practicable, are combined with the nutritional surveys. The numbers found to be infested
at these surveys are augmented by others who are discovered at periodic or special medical
inspections. While the onus of cleansing is upon the parents - and children found to be
infested are followed up until the school nurse is satisfied that they are clean - a
certain number are treated at the school clinics with a D.D.T. preparation
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