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In a short survey it Is not possible to give a full description of the effects
of such events as the second world war and the subsequent social legislation. It must
suffice to say that these events have led to a steady and continued expansion of the
service, in which the following are some of the most important milestones:-
in 1944 the Child Guidance Clinic was opened.
In 1946 the Speech Clinic was established.
In 1947 the Paediatric Clinic and the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic were started.
In 1950 a full-time audometrician was appointed jointly with the hospital service.
In 1950 the Health Committee opened the Occupation Centre.
In 1954 the Spastic Unit for young children was added to the Elizabeth Fry Special
School for physically handicapped children.
In 1955 an "Audiology Team" was formed. Although started as part of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Service it was, from the beginning, closely integrated with
the School Health Service through the E.N.T. consultant and the Head Teacher
of the West Ham School for the Deaf.
In 1956 the open air school at Fyfleld was closed. This closure was an expression
of the success of the work of the School Health Service, indicating that the
needs of delicate children had declined to such an extent that the maintenance
of a residential school for such a purpose was no longer necessary.
Despite much progress there is no reason for complacency about the School Health
Service. Apart from the many problems which require skilful and imaginative action, there
are still deficiencies in the basic provisions of the service. Very few schools have
adequate accommodation for medical inspection. This results in a lack of privacy for
interviewing parents and children, which is particularly limiting now that so much of the
time could profitably be spent discussing emotional factors and the child's adjustment
within the family. It is hoped that greater attention will be directed to the provision
of this privacy in the planning of medical inspection facilities in new school buildings
and that gradual improvement will be effected In the old ones.
There is a constant need to review the School Health Service in the light of
changing social circumstances and of the factors which influence the health of school
children. Greater flexibility is needed to replace the old "routine" so that the efforts
of the doctors and nurses can be directed where they are most needed.
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