H.—3l.

PART lII.—SCHOOL HYGIENE.

I have the honour to report on the work of the Division of School Hygiene for the year ended 31st March, 1934. Staff. There has been no recent alteration in the personnel of the school medical and nursing staff, which consists of a Director, ten School Medical Officers, and twenty-five school nurses. In the East Cape, North Auckland, and Taranaki districts, Doctors Turbott, Cook, and Champtaloup respectively continue to act as both Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer for the district. The work of the school nursing staff has been carried out with interest and capability. It was found impracticable to continue in Taranaki the arrangement with the Red Cross Society, by which Miss Corkill (Red Cross nurse) and Miss Small (school nurse) carried out combined duty as Red Cross and school nurses. Public confidence in these officers resulted in an excessive demand upon their services, so that reorganization became necessary and arrangements were made for Miss Small to carry on duty as school nurse in North Taranaki, Miss Corkill relinquishing her school nursing duties, and Miss Jewiss being appointed district nurse with headquarters at Opunake ; Miss Small and Miss Jewiss now work under the direction of the Health Department only. The arrangement by which district nurses now act as school nurses has resulted in better supervision and care of the health of children in outlying districts. The district nurse may be appealed to for assistance in all local health problems, and is able to deal with them directly and to utilize without delay all available facilities for prevention and cure. Arrangements have been made for Miss Hodges, who has been acting as school nurse, Wellington, to be transferred to the position of district nurse and school nurse in the Wairarapā, with headquarters at Masterton, with the object of giving closer attention not only to the school nursing work of the district but also to the various Maori communities scattered throughout that area. Figures relating to Work accomplished in 1933. The following summary serves to indicate the extent of work accomplished daring the school period February to December, 1933 : — Schools inspected — Of roll under 100 . . . . . . . . .. 817 Of roll 100 to 500 .. .. .. .. .. 385 Of roll over 500 .. .. .. .. . . 120 — 1,322 Children examined — Complete examinations .. .. . . .. 57,566 Partial examinations .. .. .. .. .. 51,876 109,442 Number of notifications sent to parents .. .. .. .. 37,543 Number of addresses to school-children . . . . . . . . 575 Number of parents interviewed .. . . . . . . . . 9,355 Number of lectures or addresses to parents .. . . .. .. 54 The figures for the work of the school nurses are as follows Number of days assisted Medical Officer in schools .. .. .. 1,704-J Number of children examined for medical schedule (H. Sch. 14) .. .. 90,858 Number of days engaged wholly in clerical work . . .. .. 1,036J Number of children re-examined after Medical Officer's inspection .. 39,001 Number of children examined by special request .. . . . . 12,096 Number of visits to homes inLarge towns .. .. .. .. .. 7,580 Small country towns .. .. .. .. .. 2,871 Scattered districts . . .. .. . . .. 1,569 12,020 Number of children taken personally to hospital, &c. .. . . .. 981 Number of children taken personally to dental clinic .. .. . . 419 Number of health talks given .. .. .. .. .. 961

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