[Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Bradford City / County Borough.

  • Bradford (West Yorkshire, England). Metropolitan District Council.
Date:
1964
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Bradford City / County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    133/264 (page 95)
    School Health Service V. H. Atkinson, m.b., ch.b., d.p.h. Senior School Medical Officer A handbook outlining services for school pupils, pre-school children and problem families was jointly produced. Selective examinations introduced during 1963 brought closer co- operation with teachers, reassurance to parents and treatment for variable defects which otherwise might have been missed e.g. squint, hernia and deafness. Medical officers preferred helping volunteers; periodic attention to all pupils remained a necessary duty. Before each periodic medical inspection forms were sent to the parents or guardians of children concerned inviting the adults to be present. The forms incorporated a short questionnaire on past health of the child; answers saved valuable time at interview, and indicated worries which could be discussed. Except for school leavers, the forms also requested written consent for immunisation against poliomyelitis, diphtheria and tetanus. Necessary treatment or supervision was arranged for defects found. The co-operation of our specialist and general practitioner colleagues was gratefully acknowledged. Where treatment had not been obtained or had lapsed, a home visit by the health visitor was often successful. Annual testing of vision of all pupils continued. Regular hygiene inspections were carried out in all schools by school nurses and assistants. Cases of head infestation were notified to the parents; severe or persistent cases were excluded from school. Visits by the school nurse often enabled teachers to bring forward pupils suspected of visual or hearing loss, speech defects, mental retardation etc. The health of children examined was very good. The percentage of pupils showing an unsatisfactory physical state was 0.48 compared with 0.4 in 1961, 0.3 in 1962 and 0.3 per cent in 1963. Cases of skin disease found at periodic and special inspections numbered 1,241 of which 515 required treatment and 726 observation only. No case of ringworm was recorded.