Selective medical examinations on starting school.

Selective medical examination of children starting school has been operated in Cramlington for five years, and the data for the school year 1984-85 are reported. It is argued that the 'routine medical' is an outdated concept and that its abolition would allow more time for more important aspects of educational medicine including help for adolescents, disabled children in school, and deprived children who have not received basic health surveillance.