ABSTRACT
The Second World War subjected the School Medical Service (SMS) to the most severe test of all its resources, practices and assumptions. The effects of medical staff shortages, civilian bombing, blitzed schools and, most dramatically, the evacuation process all made themselves felt and exposed many of the inherent weaknesses of the Service as it had developed since the Edwardian period. Initially the main difficulties were in evacuation reception areas which were overwhelmed by the sudden influx of children who found it difficult to get treatment from doctors and dentists. The situation worsened in 1941 when SMS personnel became liable for call-up, leaving some areas with half their staff. From 1938 to 1945 the number of full-time SMOs was reduced by more than 50 per cent of the pre-war figure; part-timers by 20 per cent and full-time school nurses by 12 per cent. Moreover, an already grossly inadequate dental service lost 25 per cent of full-time dental officers and 30 per cent of its part-timers.1
