London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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43
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for the school health
service, but by virtue of an agreement required by Section 32 of the London
Government Act, 1963, there is joint use by the Authority and the Borough
Council of professional staff, premises and equipment. The Medical Officer of
Health is the Principal School Medical Officer of the Inner London Education
Authority for the area and responsible to that Authority for the day-to-day
running of the service.
In this report some of the more detailed statistical information has been
omitted, but for those who are interested it can be found in the report of the
Medical Adviser to the Inner London Education Authority.
SCHOOL MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
Both the number of children examined in routine medical examinations
(13,867) and the school population (36,051) show no significant change during
the year.
206 7 year-old children were given 'selective' medical examinations in 11
junior schools,roughly the same number aslast year. The children are selected
for examination by the school doctor, nurse and head teacher, after questionnaires
have been completed by the parent and school staff. The scheme has
proved successful and arrangements have been made to extend it.
NON-ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
| Employment certificates | 175 | |
| Theatrical children | 123 | |
| School journeys | 1, 339 | |
| Recuperative holidays | 228 | |
| Secondary school annual surveys | 65 | |
| Outward bound courses | 14 | |
| Boarding schools for the delicate | 46 | |
| Handicapped pupils - statutory examination | 248 | |
| Handicapped pupils - periodic special defect examination | 405 | |
| At request of: | Head teacher (child's name entered in special book) | 147 |
| Head teacher - others | 271 | |
| School nurse | 74 | |
| Divisional (Educational) Officer | 71 | |
| District Care Organiser or Care Committee | 33 | |
| Parent | 102 | |
| School doctor | 95 | |
| Miscellaneous | 65 | |
| 3, 501 | ||
The total is slightly lower than in 1968. The category 'theatrical
children' means children who have been selected by theatre management to appear
on stage, usually as part of a chorus.
RE-INSPECTIONS
In addition to selective, routine and non-routine medical examinations,
4, 115 children were seen again by the school doctor 3 to 12 months later in
order to check on some defect noted on a previous occasion.