ENG-1962 — Page 192

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HEALTH

inoculating teams regularly visit all registered schools. Tuberculin testing is also carried out, negative reactors being vaccinated with BCG.

Children participating in the medical treatment scheme undergo periodic medical inspections in addition to treatment that may be given for any intercurrent disease. Defects are either treated in school clinics or referred to eye, ear, nose and throat, dental, or other specialist clinics. Cases referred for hospital treatment are charged maintenance fees only, while appliances such as spectacles are provided either at cost, at a reduced charge or free, depending on an almoner's recommendation. The school dental service under- takes routine dental examinations and limited conservative treat- ment of those school children who participate in the scheme. Certain aspects of the school health service have been under review for some time and it is expected that recommendations will be made in the near future. Pending a decision, new entrants are being restricted and there has been a gradual lessening in numbers as older pupils leave school.

Industrial Health. The work of the industrial health section of the Labour Department, which is staffed by members of the Medical and Health Department, is described in chapter 3. —

Mental Health. The Castle Peak Hospital, which has 1,000 beds, includes one block of 120 beds for the treatment of drug addicts. This is designed to make treatment available to addicts who are prepared to surrender their freedom voluntarily for a period of up to six months. After medical and nursing care during the period of withdrawal from the addicting drug, there is a programme of rehabilitation designed to restore confidence and re-establish the individual in the community. By the end of the year a number of voluntary patients had been discharged and group psychotherapy was continuing through a club which had been established with the help of the staff of the treatment centre. A psychiatric clinic for the treatment of out-patients continued its work at the old Mental Hospital, which also provided some limited day hospital accommodation.

Health Education. Health education covers a wide field and is an integral part of the activities of all branches of the Medical and Health Department. The maternal and child health service is particularly active in this sphere. The inter-departmental