South Yorkshire Times February 12, 1955
At Surgeries in School Hours
Conisbrough Children say evening Visits “out”
After it had been alleged at last night’s meeting of Mexborough secondary School Governors that Conisbrough doctors would not see children in the evening, and that the children attended surgeries during school hours with a subsequent loss of school attendance, Divisional Educational Officer, Mr E.B.Stockdale said he would take up the matter with the doctors.
The matter was raised by Miss D.I. Hillborne, Ed Mrs of Conisbrough Northcliffe Girls Modern School, Mr Kilbourne said she had been told by the children that it was impossible for them to see a doctor in the evening. “Quite a number of girls asked at various times for permission to visit a doctor during school hours,” she added.
“In some cases the girls do not return to school and in all cases lessons are missed. I should be pleased to be informed whether I am to continue this practice of allowing children to visit doctors during school hours.
Mr Stockdale said he suggested Miss Hilbourne did not allow the children to go to the surgeries during school time. “I think she will be in order to inform them that she has no authority to let children go in school time,” he said.
“A Special Surgery”
Headmaster of the adjacent boys school Mr S.G.Thomas said he knew of a doctor who had a special surgery at 2 PM. The doctor did not wish to see adults at that time Mr Thomas added that he had also experienced the same trouble where dentists were concerned.
Ald M Crichton said he thought the matter should be dealt with from an administrative point of view, a move that Mrs Stockdale should deal with it. This course will adopt.
Mrs Stockdale said, “If we do not do something about this we shall have no children at school at all.”
Ald B Roberts J.P.said, “Some of the doctors do not come too early and they tell the children “You get at the back of the queue.” The doctor should work with us and let the children go in, and deal with them first. There are plenty of customers and they go home again. We should tell them not to have children in school hours.” He said.
In reply to Councillor J.R.Scott, J.P., Miss Hilbourne said the children normally went for their own ailments, but sometimes for their parents.
Mr Thomas said “quite candidly, I consider it is coming back to the parents. They are not doing their job properly.”
A Conisbrough doctor approached by the “South Yorkshire Times” last night said, “We are a morning surgery at Conisbrough, an afternoon surgery at Conanby and an evening surgery at Conisbrough. The times are posted outside the surgery and nobody is discouraged. Anybody can come at any time man woman or child.” He said there was no question of adults not be welcome at the afternoon surgery.