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Examination of School Leavers.
The medical inspection at the age of fourteen enables the medical officer to give
an opinion about the type of work for which the boy or girl Is physically suited. If it
is found that a child has a specific "unsuitability" for particular types of work the fact
is reported to the Youth Employment Officer on an appropriate form and, in addition, a
letter is sent amplifying the reasons. These inspections bring together child, parent,
medical officer and often the teacher, and provides an opportunity for stimulating an
interest in health matters as well as allaying unnecessary anxiety. Besides health
education they also have the function of health assessment and detection of faults.
Special Examinations.
Special inspections are also carried out at any time if for any reason a parent,
teacher, school nurse or health visitor wishes to have the medical officer's opinion.
In addition to this work children who have been referred for treatment or observation
are re-examined at intervals. It is interesting to note that, at periodic medical inspections,
only 6.77 Per cent of our children have a defect found to require treatment. In 1955, the
number was 7.8 per cent. Apart from defects of vision, excluding squint, the percentage
found to require treatment was only 3.3.
The work done by School Nurses and Health Visitors.
School doctors are assisted in their work by school nurses and health visitors. The
work of the school nurse and health visitor includes
(1) preparation of pupils for medical inspection, i.e., weighing and measuring, vision
testing;
(2) assisting the school medical officer at medical inspection, e.g., obtaining history
from parents, details of home conditions, etc.
(3) routine inspections of pupils for cleanliness;
(4) assisting at minor a;ilment clinics;
(5) home visitation.
The school nurses inspect all children in school every term for personal hygiene.
The nurses Inspections of personal hygiene are the basis of the "cleansing" scheme. There has
been great progress since the early days of this work, but even to-day a small percentage of
children are found to be "dirty" and the work of Inspection must, therefore, go on.
This work of the school nurse Is health education In its most practical form. Schools
have played an important part in the raising of general standards of hygiene. Health
education in the schools is largely a responsibility of the teachers,- but the medical officers
and nurses also have an Important role to play. This aspect of education is most important,
not only In the interests of the children themselves, but also because of their future
influence as parents of the next generation.
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