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28
County Borough of East Ham Education Committee.
Mr. Chairman, Mrs. Ford, and Gentlemen,—
I beg to submit my Annual Report as School Medical Officer
for the year ended December 31st, 1919.
During the years of the war the work of the School Medical
Service was seriously curtailed; makeshift schemes had to be
adopted, much necessary work was shelved, and new departures
postponed. The year 1919, however, has witnessed an endeavour
to return to normal methods. Gradually the full complement
of staff has been obtained, arrears of work have been
overtaken, and fresh activities inaugurated. The appointment
of a full-time Dentist is a distinct step forward, and the work of
Dr. Bendix has been much appreciated by children and parents
alike. Two new school nurses have been appointed, enabling
more intimate supervision of cases requiring following up.
The responsibilities of the service continue to increase as
time goes on and a considerable increase of work may be expected
when the various sections of the new Education Act (1918) come
into force. Meantime several pressing problems confront the
Committee.
An open-air school is urgently required for the use of pretubercular
and debilitated children. It is expected that a certain
amount of accommodation will be available for sick children at
"Harts," but this should be supplementary to, and not a substitute
for, an open-air school.
Provision for the education of physically defective children
is also urgently required, and no time should be lost in hastening
this scheme to a practical termination.
There is also urgent need for the services of an aurist, but
this is dealt with in a later paragraph.
The School Clinics continue to do excellent work, and the
best testimony to their value is to be found in the increasing
numbers of children attending them and in the improved standard
of cleanliness obtaining among school children generally. Children
harbouring vermin or suffering from infective sores—conditions
common in schools a decade ago—are now comparatively
rare. Clinics are held at the Town Hall, at Manor Park, and at
North Woolwich, whereby treatment centres are provided within
easy reach of all schools in the Borough.
I wish toexpress my thanks to the Committee for their kind
consideration of my recommendations, and also to the Staff for
their assistance.
Your obedient Servant,
WILLIAM BENTON,
Medical Officer to Education Committee.