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57
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
A major portion of the early part of the year was taken up
in a period of transition in preparation for the inauguration of
the new London Borough and in this connection I must express
my sincere appreciation of the valuable co-operation received
from my colleagues of the Essex County Council; the assistance
given greatly facilitated the work involved.
School Roll & With the advent of the new Borough the number of schools
Premises increased from 40 to 52 and the number of departments from 66
to 80. The school roll on 31st December, 1965 was 30,520
compared with 21,640 the previous year for Ilford. In addition
approximately 75 children were in attendance at the Ethel
Davis Special School for Physically Handicapped.
Medical During 1965, 7123 periodic medical inspections were
Inspections carried out and of this number it was gratifying to note that
only 25 or .35% were deemed to be categorised as unsatisfactory
so far as concerns the general physical condition
(Appendix 17 (part I. Table A)). In addition, 202 special
inspections and 1267 re-inspections were carried out (Appendix
18 (Table B)).
The School Dental Service in the Borough continued to
function on the lines of previous years with the equivalent of
5 5/llths full-time dental officers as, on the formation of the
new Borough, we were unfortunate to lose the services of M..
E. B. Hodgson who was appointed Principal School Dental
Officer of the London Borough of Havering.
In spite of being below the required establishment the
dentists inspected 14,740 children in schools and a further
3,307 at the clinics or 59% of the school population. The
Principal School Dental Officer reports more fully elsewhere
in the report. (See also Appendix 19-24 for statistics).
New and During the year a Keystone Vision Screener was purchased
Original Work and it is hoped that in conjunction with an audiometer it will
be possible to carry out extensive testing of the vision and
hearing of school-children. (Dr. Shaw reports more fully on
this later in the report).
A nursery class was opened at William Torbitt School In
September 1965 and the same facilities for medical inspection
and treatment are to be offered these children as others.