[Report 1954] / School Health Service, Cornwall County Council.

  • Cornwall (England). County Council. School Health Service.
Date:
1954
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1954] / School Health Service, Cornwall County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/70 (page 4)
    ol children infested in Cornwall was only half that in England and Wales as a whole, it still seemed to be far too high a figure, having regard to the modern methods of dealing with this complaint. A closer association between our own activities and those of District Councils has been brought about, each having its part to play in deahng with this problem,. The figures in the body of this Report show what a very substantial reduction has now been effected in the number of children infested, and it seems that at last we are getting on top of the problem. The section on the work of the Child Guidance Service deserves careful study. It is generally agreed that the pattern of behaviour is laid down fairly solidly during the first few years of life. The Child Guidance Service, therefore, is not only concerned with the immediate problem, which in many cases it is able to solve satisfactorily, but takes a longer view in dealing with mental problems from a preventive aspect. The increasing pressure on the Child Guidance Staff is some indication of the value in which their work is held not only by members of the School Health Service, but also by family doctors, teachers, probation ofl&cers, and others. It has been necessary to try to limit the number of cases dealt with by this Staff, in order to keep the case load within their capacity to deal with it properly. If the pressure continues to increase, the question of an increase of the Child Guidance Staff must inevitably be considered. I repeat in all sincerity our deep appreciation of the assistance we have received from the Secretary for Education and his staff, whose understanding of our problems has been a great encouragement to us. The administration of the School Health Service has again been under- taken mainly by Dr. Elliott, to whom all are indebted for the steady progress achieved. However, nothing could have been done without the continuing support which we have enjoyed from the Chairman and Members of the Education Committee, the teachers and the various Voluntary bodies associated with the School Health Service. I am. Your Obedient Servant, R. N. CURNOW, Principal School Medical Officer.