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This clinic is held every Monday afternoon from 2 to 4.30.
Frequently during the year it was necessary to hold further
sessions on Thursday afternoons. The refraction clinic continued
to be well attended and is much appreciated by the parents.
332 children were examined by the Ophthalmic Surgeon during
the year. Glasses were prescribed for 114 children and in every
case the spectacles were obtained. These children are again
examined by the Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Health Centre after
they have received their spectacles from the optician. In cases
of myopia the children are re examined twice a year. Children
suffering from other types of defective vision are re-tested at
the refraction clinic at the end of twelve months.
In several cases, difficulty was experienced in persuading
parents to provide glasses for their children. In one case, pressure
was brought to bear on the parents through the Inspector
of the N.S.P.C.C. In other cases, letters were written to the
parents threatening exclusion of their children from school. In
no case was there a persistent refusal.
(g) Ear Diseases. 107 children with minor ear defects were
treated at the Health Centre. Most of these cases were suffering
from otorrhoea, wax in the ear, or eczematous conditions
of the meatus. It is most important that children with running
ears should receive regular treatment. Here again it is often
difficult for parents to carry out this properly at home. These
children attend daily at the Health Centre until the condition
is cured. Where necessary, operative treatment is provided
for the removal of the tonsils and adenoids.
(h) Dental Treatment. During 1931 the routine inspection
by the School Dental Surgeon was extended so as to include all
children attending school.
In the year under review, 4,623 children were dentally
inspected in the routine age groups in school. A further 363
children were inspected as special cases. The total number of
children thus examined amounted to 4,086. This represents an
increase of 716 over the figure for 1930. 3,884 or 77.9% were
found to require treatment and their parents notified accordingly.
During the previous year, 74.4% of the children inspected were
found to require treatment.
The number of children actually treated was 1,941 or 50%
of those who were found to require treatment. It is still difficult
to obtain consent for treatment in a considerable number of
cases. When appointments are not kept visits are paid to the
homes by the School Nurses, and every effort is made to get the
parents to attend with their children at the dental clinic. The
Saturday morning dental clinics which were started during 1930
have been entirely justified, and have shown a good average
attendance.
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