View report page

During the year 68,839 inspections were made at these cleanliness surveys and 878
instances of infestation found. On the basis of a school population of 29,707, this gives
a proportion of uncleanliness of 2.95 per cent, which compares with 4.6 per cent, in 1953
calculated in the same way on a school population of 29,653. This number refers to
individual children, because however many times a child is found dirty in the year, it is
only recorded as one case. There are many instances of recurrent infestations in the same
children, and these persistent offenders provide the School Health Service with one of its
most pressing problems. Infestation in such children can never be eradicated until the
whole family is freed from it.
• The revised procedure for dealing with infestation in school children adopted by the
Education Committee in 1953 and described in the annual report for that year, was continued
throughout 1954. The following figures relate to the work done during this periods-
Total number of individual pupils found to be Infested 878
Number of individual pupils in respect of whom cleansing
Notices were Issued (Section 54(2} Education Act, 1944) 322
Number of individual pupils In respect of whom cleansing
Orders were issued (Section 54(3) Education Act, 1944) 70
It is Interesting to record that, although 70 cleansing Orders were issued, only 22 children
were compulsorily cleansed at the Treatment Centre.
There is no doubt that the force of the cleansing Notice has the effect in many cases
of making the parents realise their responsibilities so that, even although it was necessary
to issue a cleansing Order, by the time it is in the parents hands many of the children have
been satisfactorily cleansed.
Comparative statistics cannot be expected to give a wholly reliable assessment of
the results of these new methods after two years' working, but the results for 1954 can
be said to be heartening. Although over 10,000 more inspections were carried out in 1954
than in the previous year, there were 487 fewer instances of infestation. There was also
a reduction of 189 cleansing Notices and 50 cleansing Orders Issued during the year compared
with the previous year. The main burden of the attack on this social evil Is borne by the
School Nursing Service. The patient, persistent work of the school nurses and health
visitors in educating the children and their parents in the need for cleanliness deserves
recognition. It is a thankless task, but there can be no respite if the progress already
won is to be maintained. There have been many indications of the salutary effect of the
campaign upon the parents, and fathers in particular have realised, often for the first
time, the condition Into which their children have been allowed to fall and have taken
active steps to remedy the situation.
FOLLOWING-UP. This remains a most Important function of the school nurses which is
essential If the full value is to be obtained from inspections and treatment. Many children
would become tired of carrying out the medical officers' recommendations and parents fail to
co-operate without the friendly encouragement and advice of the nurse. The School Health
Service frequently requires the nurse to visit the children's homes and this is welcomed as
an excellent opportunity of getting to know really intimately the families for whose welfare
they are responsible. The help and guidance given to families needing It is valuable social
work. Reports on home conditions of a variety of cases - chiefly asthma and rheumatism
required by hospitals, are often prepared by the school nurses following home visits.
During the year the school nurses paid 2,349 home visits in this way.
94