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HYGIENE OP SCHOOL PREMISES
Medical officers when visiting schools do not confine themselves to seeing the
children but interest themselves in general hygienic arrangements and the condition cf
the sanitary accommodation in so far as these may affect the health of pupils and staff.
Following the practice of recent years, they 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 medical officer, are supplied to the Chief Education Officer
whenever necessary so that he can consider how far and at what stage it may be practicable
to implement any recommendations. Certain improvements can only be implemented by inclusion
in long-term plans but other matters may be capable of more ready adjustment as they arise.
Liaison between the Education Department and the Borough Engineer enables the medical
officers' recommendations to be interpreted into practical improvements to the school
premises or to the various services accommodated in them. During the year 6l 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 three appointments of combined health visitor/school nurse were made in this way.
NUTRITION. Nutritional surveys were carried out on the same basis as in previous
years, and occupied a substantial proportion of the school nurses' time. In 1953 it was
decided to carry out an annual nutritional survey and this was continued in the present
year. With the maintenance of a good standard of general condition among the children it is
possible that a still further lengthening of this interval or even abandonment of the surveys,
may become acceptable with corresponding release of school nurses time for other purposes.
It may well be that the nutritional surveys have served their purpose.
The heights and weights of all children surveyed were recorded both graphically and
in figures.
During the year under review 22,769 inspections were made in these surveys. Thirty-five
cases were referred to the medical officers for further consideration of their nutritional
state but none were found to be suffering from malnutrition. This is the fifth year in
succession in which this gratifying result has obtained, and fits ill with the general pattern
of Improved general condition.
NUTRITION SURVEYS
Number of inspections 22,769
Referred to school doctors (nutritional-grounds) 35
Referred to school doctors (other conditions):-
Obesity 17
Ear defects 1
Orthopaedic conditions 2
Defective vision and squiAt 2
Other conditions 10
Total: 32
CLEANLINESS. Routine cleanliness surveys are carried out each tern. The numbers found
to be infested at these surveys are augmented by others who are discovered at periodic or
special medical inspections. While the responsibility of cleansing is upon the parents,
children found to be infested are followed up until the school nurse is satisfied that they
are clean.
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