Action Against Disease

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32220, 12 February 1970, Page 14

Action Against Disease

Concern over statements made by Health Department officers that they had no power to {close the West Lyttelton School because of an out- ’ break of hepatitis was expressed in a letter . from the Lyttelton Main ’ School Committee read ' at a meeting of the Canterbury School Commit- ? tees’ Association last > evening.

However, the association also received a copy of a letter from the Minister of Education (Mr Taiboys) to Mr T. M. McGuigan, M.P., in which the Minister said that headteachers were empowered to suspend any child for want of cleanliness, dr who might be likely to communicate any contagious disease. Mr McGuigan had written to the Minister saying that there was anxiety about the apparent lack of power by the Health Department to take steps to curb the spread of the disease.

“The Health Act empowers the Medical Officer of Health, when authorised by the Minister of Health, to prohibit the admission of children under the age of 16 to any school for the purpose of preventing the outbreak or spread of any infectious disease,” the Minister said. Mr Taiboys said that he could understand the concern and anxiety of the

school committee and thanked parents for bringing the matter to his attention. The Lyttelton Main School Committee said that the Health Department had no power to force a family to raise its standard of hygiene, nor the power to prohibit a hepatitis contact with a low standard of hygiene from continuing to handle food in a laree cafeteria.

The committee said that II was a deplorable situation that the law did not protect children at school from contact with children from a family with a low standard of cleanliness and hygiene.

ThH was Jeff to the headmaster, teacher antj the Health Department doctor to try to overcome. But they appeared to have very little power by law. At West Lyttelton School, this had led to at least a dozen children becoming infected with a very uncomfor table complaint. At least two adults were affected and I there was an early closing of the school. “According to two Health Department representatives at the Lyttelton meeting, the department did not have the power to close the school,” the committee said. “On finding that parents felt so strongly on the matter, and intended to close the school themselves, the Health Department representatives contacted their superior who recommended that the school he closed," said the letter. This action was described as belated and shortsighted. “We think that the hand of the Health Department should be strengthened to enable it to take more positive action if similar circumstances should occur in the future.” the committee said.