HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1167, 30 June 1911, Page 7

HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

MEDICAL INSPECTION. URGED BY DOCTOR VALINTINE. DISCUSSED BY HOSPITAL CONFEUTho importanco of subjecting >cliool children to a -systematic- medical examination was emphasised by his Kxcellency the Governor when lip opened tho Hospitals Conference on Iticjday. Tho Mini=ter-in-Charge of Hospitals (the Jlou. G. i'owlds) in a letter read to the conference on tho same day also expressed a hops that a system of this nature might shortly be instituted. Ycsferd.iy the question'was put before tho conference by (he Inspector-General of Hospitals (Dr. Vnlintuie) who remarked that a system of school inspection was unnecessary. Owing to the more fa rable conditions of life in New Zealan. it would bo unnecessary to ins.tituto so extensive a system as. obtained in other countries, but from reports available it appeared that. 20 or 30 per cent of our school children needed some form or other of medical advice. No new legislation would be required, as under extreme enactment's a system of inspection could be inaugurated at a minimum of cost. The speaker did not suggest that the scheme he would submit' was free from drawbacks, but it would be unwise'at Hie present, time to incur the expenditure necessary, to establish a more elaborate Scheme.

Dr. Valintino explained at' length a scheme which he afterwards summarised as follows:—'

(1) That a- scheme of medical inspection of school' children is necessary in the interests of the Dominion. . (2) That from 20' to 30 per cent of children need some form of. medical advice. . .

(3) That the anthropometric survey and initial diagnosis of disease or defects can be carried out by tlio teachers, who shall report to the Education' Board. (4) That teachers can be.trained in this work by means of lectures in the trainiiiK colleges. (5) That, advantage can bn taken of the out-patient department?, attached to our hospitals;- for carrying out the scheme. (6) That, pending the erection by hospital boards pi' suitable out-patient departments, the. education ' boards, should set aside special rooms for tho medical examination of scholars.

(7) That, as the hospital', boards are responsible for the sick of their district, who ore not ablo to pay the. ordinary fee for medical attendance, the cost, of th? scheme should be borne.by the hospital boards, which are. now subsidised from the Consolidated Fund according to expenditure incurred. (8) That the children of all parents who are in a position to pay ordinary fees for medical attendance be referred by the Education Board to their family medical attendant, but that, if possible, a uniform fee i'or such examinations bo agreed upon. (9) That tho Hospital Board be entitled to charge fees for thoso children nttendod, if, in their opinion, the parents are in a position to pay them. (Ill) That two medical inspectors shall be appointed, one of ivaom sh.ill be a woman, to assist the teachers to carry out in a proper manner tho duties assigned thciy.: To report on tho sanitation of school surrounding);, etc.., , and to compile statistics; such officers to be under tho control of the Public Health Department.

(11) That the cost of the scheme should not exceed JCI-i.ip.

(12) That arrangements for the treatment of dental caries in children be conducted on the same lines, and bo put in operation when the success of the above scheme is assured.

(13) The difficulties surrounding the es-. elusion of scholars .suffcrinp.from iufectious diseases, or coming from infected houses, can be overcome by procedure on tho above linos.

Dr. Yalintine stated...thar . there wore ■ about 51,000 children attending school in New Zealand who-needed some form of medical treatment. Ten por cent., however, would he treated by private practitioners, so that soinc 50,000 children might need medical treatment-at the expense of the State. It was estimated thnt the, average cost incurred for the examination and treatment of each'child-would be ss. per head. This would involve a total outlay of • i-13,500." Of this" amount half would be paid bv the hospital boards and the other half by the Government. A certain amount.would bo recovered from parents in a position to pay for the treatment of their children. No account had been

taken,-Dr. Vnlintine- stated, of tho cost of extentlinfr and -equipping Hie outpatients' departments at (be various hospitals. This-work should be undertaken gradually.