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To the Chairman and Members of the Education Committee:
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my last Annual Report on the
School Health Service of the London Borough of Merton for the
year 1971, since I shall be retiring from office at the end of June, 1972.
The health of school children in Merton during the year was very
good, the percentage whose general condition was found to be satisfactory
being the same as in 1970, namely 99.7.
Medical inspections of school children totalled 13,594 (10,752
routine inspections and 2,842 special inspections and reinspections)
compared with 12,508 (9,040 routine inspections and 3,468 special
inspections and reinspections) in 1970. At routine and other medical
inspections 4,979 defects, mostly minor in character, were found of
which 2,380 were referred for treatment and 2,599 for observation,
compared with 5,151 (1,827 for treatment and 3,324 for observation)
in 1970.
The system of selective medical examinations which was approved
by the Education Committee and became fully operative in 1970, was
continued. 455 questionnaires were distributed to school children on
entry to high schools and on the recommendation of the School
Medical Officer, or at the request of the parent or both, 197 children
were medically examined.
As a result of these examinations, 24 children were referred for
treatment or observation, these being followed up by the private
doctor, or at a school clinic. The majority of the children in the age
group had been dealt with in 1970 and thus the number involved in
1971 was correspondingly lower.
As was the case previously the system of selective medical examinations
resulted in fewer children in the age group being seen and
this enables School Medical Officers to concentrate on those pupils
who most require attention.
Services at Pelham Road Clinic ceased in April when the building
was vacated to enable its demolition to commence to clear the site
for the erection of a new clinic. The Dental Services, Audiology
Clinic and Ophthalmic Clinic were transferred to Morden Road Clinic,
and the Minor Ailments Clinic and Orthopaedic Clinic were transferred
to Russell Road Clinic.
The Education (Handicapped Children) Act, 1970, which terminated
the procedure for ascertaining mentally handicapped children
as unsuitable for education at school and thus brought them within
the educational system, came into force on 1st April, 1971, and from
that date, the premises in Bordesley Road, Morden, formerly administered
by the Health Committee as a Junior Training Centre, were
transferred to the Education Committee and are now known as St.
Ann's School.
It is with great regret that I must report the death, in September,
of Dr. H. W. Freeth, who had been a School Dental Officer with
this Authority and previously with Surrey County Council for many
years. His excellent work in the School Dental Service will be greatly
missed.
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