[Report 1936] / School Medical Officer, Somerset County Council.

Somerset (England). County Council.

Date:: 1936

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1936] / School Medical Officer, Somerset County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

13/50 (page 11)

Almost exactly 50% of tho children are taking the school milk and the figures suggest a stabilization at this proportion. In a number of other areas it has declined. This proportion is really very satisfactory, but in view of the great and special value of milk I should like to see the proportion of milk drinkers much larger. There is no question as to its benefit to the children and I hear of its value from many sources. As in previous years, the Teachers recognise this and have been at considerable trouble to make the scheme a success. The arrangement for milk for undernourished children has been amended to bring it into line with this cheap milk scheme. Where milk is provided by the County Education Authority because it is needed on medical grounds and the parents cannot afford it, the |d. per third of a pint is provided by the Education Committee instead of the parents. Usually more than one-third pint a day is required. Where no milk is drunk in school the old arrangement of direct con¬ tract with the milkman is maintained. The number of children receiving free milk at the expense of the County Education Committee was increased materially during the year, and comprised 1,338 children, as compared with 809 in the previous year. MEDICAL TREATMENT AND FOLLOWING UP. During the year 974 new cases were referred to the Care Visitors. Arrangements have now been made with 141 Nursing Associations. Inspections in 421 schools were attended by District Nurses, 1,056 inspections were attended by these nurses, and 2,539 cases were referred to them for home visits. Then- reports state that 6,218 visits were paid to these cases. Their reports upon the 2,539 cases referred to them for home visits show that in 1,072 cases (42 per cent.) medical treatment has been obtained, and 201 cases (8 per cent.) were under treatment by the nurse; in 544 cases (21 per cent.) no treatment was obtained; 703 cases (28 per cent.) were under super¬ vision; and in the remaining 19 cases (1 per cent.) visits had yet to be made at the time the reports were received. Slight degrees of nasal obstruction, probably due to adenoids, but not marked cases, are reported for breathing exercises in the schools under the direction of the teacheis. Directions to parents and teachers as to treatment were given in 2,593 cases (20 per cent.) and for observation in 1,341 cases (10.5 per cent.). During the past year grants ol milk, malt and oil, or Parrish’s Eood were made to 1,559 children at a total cost of approximately £640. Every child is selected on medical grounds. 4his is an increase of 570, i.e., these grants have rather more than doubled, but this is money well spent. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children continues to afford useful service in the investigation and following up of certain difficult cases.