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20
Routine Medical Inspections:—During the year 1919, the following
number of school children have been examined:
Boys-Entrants 2,830
Intermediate 1,181
Leavers 1,297
Girls-Entrants 2,812
Intermediate 1,720
Leavers 1,659
The practice followed in previous years was again adopted ; the
School Medical Officer examined boys of the intermediate group and
older boys and the Assistant Medical Officers the infants and girls.
It has been found possible this year to make an inspection of all
the children in the Code groups. The inspections have, for the most
part, been made in the schools, but where accommodation for medical
inspections was lacking or inadequate, the children were examined at
Bruce Castle or the Town Hall Treatment Centre.
The parents are invited to attend with their children, and in the
case of the infants, the parents are usually in attendance, but with the
older children, and, especially the leavers, the attendance of the parents
is less frequent.
Whether the parents attend., or not, any defect calling for treatment
is notified to them, and the request is made that medical attention
shall be given.
This is the point from which originates that scheme of operations
that gives the School Medical Service of Tottenham its recognised
importance.
Two nurses are in attendance with the medical officer at the inspections.
The medical officer enters upon the inspection card the full
particulars of the results of the examination, entries of defects beinj;
conspicuously shown. At the same time a " following-up card is
filled in by a nurse. The inspection card is filed in the card index
register kept at Bruce Castle. The following-up card is retained by the
nurse until treatment has been received and the child restored to health1
or a satisfactory reason is furnished for treatment being withheld. A
reasonable time is allowed the parents to seek the aid of their own
medical practitioners or the hospitals. The nurse then calls at the homes