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69
Orthoptic treatment.
The conditions for orthoptic treatment are unfortunately most
distressing. So far negotiations for the establishment of an orthoptic
department going on for a long time have not led to the desired result
and the position is desperate. In the most urgent cases London Hospitals
and Oldchurch Hospital in Romford came to our rescue, but these
hospitals are overworked and cannot take on any more cases. There
are now more than 275 children awaiting treatment and cannot get it
for lack of facilities. Constant enquiries of indignant parents add to our
sense of frustration and we can only hope that the long overdue establishment
of an orthoptic department will soon materialise."
Orthopaedic Clinic.
Mr. H. G. Korvin, F.R.C.S., the Orthopaedic Surgeon, makes the
following report:—
"During the year 1951 further measures were taken to reduce the
excessively high number of attendances at the Orthopaedic Clinics at
Newbury Hall and Mayesbrook. In uncomplicated cases of knock-knees,
valgus ankles, posturai defect, etc., of only moderate severity, treatment
was prescribed at the clinic and the child referred back to the School
Clinic or Child Welfare Centre for further supervision by the Assistant
School Medical Officer. At a preliminary meeting between the
Orthopaedic Surgeon and the Assistant School Medical Officers the general
lines of treatment in such cases had been discussed. The effect of this
measure is only just beginning to make itself felt.
Efforts have been made to reduce the time parents have to wait
with their children at the clinics before being seen. In making the
appointments patients expected to require more extensive examination
were allotted ten or fifteen minutes instead of the usual two-and-a-half.
In spite of this measure it was not always possible to eliminate delays.
Operative cases were generally dealt with at the East Ham Memorial
Hospital, but were kept there as in-patients for the shortest possible
time. Parents co-operated willingly in achieving this. Post-operative
physiotherapy was carried out at the Ilford clinics, but all plaster work
in these cases, as in those requiring plaster splints only, had to be done
at the hospital owing to lack of facilities at the clinics. Provision of
simple equipment for this purpose would save time and often also
provision of transport.
As in previous years X-ray examinations for the clinics were carried
out at King George Hospital. It was greatly appreciated that in spite
of the well-known shortages, all requests were satisfied without undue
delay. The provision of a simple X-ray viewing-box at each clinic
facilitated the examination and reading of the films and so helped to
eliminate possible sources of error.
The use of a small stock of reconditioned splints has been found
useful in that it allowed such splints to be supplied immediately when
required. The fitting of appliances is still not uniformly satisfactory.
It is thought that better results might be obtained if each appliance
could be ordered from makers especially competent in the manufacture
of the particular type.
This report would be incomplete without mentioning the helpful
co-operation and quiet efficiency of all concerned in the running of these
clinics."
(i) Newbury Hall Clinic.—48 sessions were held during 1951, 230 children
of school age were examined for the first time during the year and 479 children
were seen who had previously attended the clinic. These 709 children made
1,268 attendances.
(ii) Mayesbrook Clinic.—26 sessions were held during 1951, 98 children
of school age were examined for the first time during the year and 257 children
were seen who had previously attended the clinic. These 355 children made
645 attendances.