Health Experts Encourage Parents To Take Children For Health Checks Before New School Term
Health experts are encouraging parents to make use of the final week of the school holidays to take their children for health checks.
The school holidays are drawing to a close and this is the perfect time to take children for annual health checks and a dental check-up.
Dr Donald MacGregor, a consultant paediatrician and lecturer in paediatric health at Perth Royal Infirmary, said that tooth decay is incredibly common among young people, despite the fact that it is preventable and encouraged parents to ensure that children see their dentist for a check-up every 6 months. Statistics show that 14 per cent of eight year olds show signs of decay and Dr MacGregor said that it is an ideal time for children to go for a check-up with the new term due to start next week.
Eye tests are also important for children and optometrist, Paul Sidhu, from Scrivens Opticians, said that it is essential for parents to take their children for regular eye tests so that any problems can be sorted as quickly as possible; children who have sight problems may suffer from headaches, as well as finding it difficult to see the board at school and concentrate properly in class. The latest figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that the number of children aged under 15 having eye tests has fallen to a 10-year low, with only 19 per cent of under 15’s going for an eye test.
Dr MacGregor also urged parents to get their children back into school time sleeping hours in advance of the start of the new term to ensure that they are well-rested and enjoy plenty of sleep before the holidays end.
Another consideration for parents is getting new shoes for their children for school and the Society for Chiropodists and Podiatrists advises buying shoes around 12-16mm longer than the big toe to allow room for the child’s feet to grow.
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