[Report 1925] / School Medical Officer of Health, Berkshire County Council.

  • Berkshire (England). County Council.
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1925] / School Medical Officer of Health, Berkshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/30
    In the 19 cases under treatment the probable source of infection could not be ascertained in 14 cases. In 5 instances it was ascribed to other relatives or members of the household. Impetigo and some other Minor Ailments. Since the commencement of the year arrangements have existed by which assistance in the treatment of minor ailments has been available from most of the District Nurses affiliated to the County Nursing Association. The sum paid by the Education Committee is calculated at the rate of 3d. per annum per child upon the register of the elementary schools in the area of the local associations taking part in the scheme. Up to the present time I have not had reason to refer many children, as the parents are generally capable of carrying out the instructions of the School Nurses, but the District Nurses have proved willing helpers when occasion has arisen and I think the work is capable of extension in the future. Ophthalmic Clinics. Clinics in the south and east of the County are held by Dr. Charsley, Assistant Surgeon to the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital, and in the north and west of the County by Dr. O. B. Pratt, Senior Clinical Assistant, Oxford Eye Hospital. During 1925, 48 sessions were held at 15 different centres. The total number of children examined was 577 ; glasses were prescribed in 405 cases and were obtained in 356 cases. No contribution towards the cost of the glasses was made by the Education Committee : in the majority of cases the parents were able to afford the cost and in some of the remainder assistance from charitable sources or the Poor Law Guardians was forthcoming. The selection of children for examination by the specialists was carried out by the School Nurses in consultation with the Head Teachers and assisted by the records of previous medical inspections. In addition, the School Nurses arranged for the administration of Atropine preliminary to examination, assisted at the clinics and followed up the cases in order to ensure that the glasses were obtained and correctly used. The Ophthalmic Surgeons arranged for any necessary re-examination of the children. Dental Treatment. The Education Committee have recommended that the policy contained in the scheme for the provision of dental treatment for school children, which was submitted by the School Attendance Sub-Committee, be approved, but that, in view of the request of the Board of Education that new liabilities should, as far as possible, be avoided, consideration of the financial questions involved by the scheme be postponed for the ensuing year.