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RESEARCH PROJECTS
16.6 Permission was given for co-operation with Dr. Kenneth Holt, Institute of Child
Health, in a survey involving the follow-up of children with head injuries severe enough
to warrant special medical attention or absence from school to ascertain any residual
effects.
This was the only new project initiated during the year.
ASSISTANCE WITH POSTGRADUATE CHILD DEVELOPMENT COURSE
16.7 At the request of the Institute of Child Health, the Health Department made
arrangements with head teachers for postgraduate paediatricians from overseas to sit-in
at teaching sessions in various types of schools, with the object of observing the
behaviour of children in the normal setting.
HEALTH EDUCATION
16.8.1 Health education is considered an integral part of the work of the school health
service team. The school doctor and school health visitor/nurse can play an important
part in parent, teacher and pupil guidance, not merely in the course of routine and selective
medical inspections, but also in close association with other school activities.
Services available on request from head teachers include:-
the provision of speakers and discussion leaders;
films on health education for primary and secondary schools
and further education establishments;
planning health education activities in individual schools;
information on leaflets, literature and other teaching aids;
arrangements for visits to health establishments;
in-service training courses for teaching staff.
16.8.2 It is felt that still more could be done to utilize the health education services
available from various sources. An encouraging step in this direction was achieved
through the conference held in Loughborough, in April, 1967. Organised jointly by the
Society of Medical Officers of Health, the Association of Teachers in colleges and
departments of education and the Central Council for Health Education, it afforded the
opportunity for doctors, educationists and health educators to exchange ideas.
TREATMENT
16.9.1 Following the resignation of one of the ophthalmologists the vision clinics held at
West Hampstead School Treatment Centre on alternate Monday afternoons were discontinued
at the end of the year. It was hoped that the demand for treatment would be met by
the weekly clinic held on Wednesday afternoons.
16.9.2 Plans were made for an additional diathermy clinic to be started early in 1968
at the Somers Town School Treatment Centre. This arrangement would facilitate treatment
for children attending schools in the South of the Borough.
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS
16.10 School medical officers were glad to have the opportunity to meet on an informal
basis educational psychologists working in the area. The meeting was helpful, since it
lent the opportunity for an exchange of views and ideas. It was decided to hold more such
meetings at intervals to discuss items of common concern.
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