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44
SURVEYS
During the year the department supplied information for the following
surveys:
Greater London Council survey of children with spina bifida.
Medical Research Council long term follow-up of measles vaccine trial.
Survey of childhood malignancies.
Survey of British births 1970.
Department of Education and Science survey of physically handicapped
children in ordinary schools.
Survey of children' s speech (Medical Research Council developmental
psychology unit).
This involved the Department in a considerable amount of work but it was
felt that this was worthwhile in the interests of general community health.
However, in view of the increasing number of requests from a variety of sources
it is becoming more and more necessary to scrutinize the worthiness of each
request received.
STAFF MEDICAL SERVICE
Normally new entrants to the Council's service are required to complete a
medical questionnaire only but certain Officers, mainly those who will be
resident and working with children, are required to undergo medical examination
before taking up duty. In addition students intending to go to Teachers' training
colleges and persons living in the borough but who propose working for another
Authority are also medically examined by staff in this Department.
A total of 1,217 medical questionnaires were processed and a further 180
medical examinations were carried out for those special categories mentioned
above. If there is doubt as to some condition, the applicant's general
practitioner is asked for a confidential report. If there is any doubt as to
whether the applicant would be suitable for the position because of medical
reasons then the person has an interview with a principal medical officer.
However, this happens very rarely.
Cases of long term illness and accidents are assessed by a principal medical
officer. These canbevery time consuming because it is important, in order that
the correct assessment can be made, that the fullest details be obtained. The
number of such medical examinations carried out during the year was 248.
Provision is made for recommending employees found permanently unfit to carry
out their normal duties to be offered employment in certain designated light
duty post for which they are considered capable of occupying.
In addition, because of recent legislation, 51 of the Council's heavy goods
vehicle drivers were examined.
A total of 101 sessions were required to carry out all the medical examinations.
TRAINING
Apart from the statutory requirement to provide training for pupil midwives,
the Council has arrangements for training other nursing staff for specific
duties.