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Operative treatment of tonsils and adenoids in this district
still remains unsatisfactory— the numbers receiving treatment are
small and the conditions under which operative treatment is offered
could be greatly improved.
The greatest objection is that under the arrangement with the
local hospitals, children are sent home after operation. The second
is the cost—which deters many.
No scheme can be considered really satisfactory which does
not provide for the treatment of the child in the 24 hours following
the operation.
In this district the difficulty of getting the children home after
the operation is great. If the child is tiny, a pram can be usedotherwise
it means walking or a public conveyance. Neither is
right—and one cannot blame parents from shrinking from having
treatment under such circumstances.
Also the immediate after care of the child at home presents
another problem—in many cases there is overcrowding, and often
the mother goes out to work.
The actual number treated this year is only 70 out of 287
marked for treatment, making 25% against 50% last year and
33% in 1926.
The number marked for treatment is, however, very considerably
larger than last year.
This does not necessarily imply a large increase in those suffering
from the condition. Probably it is due to a difference in the
standard adopted, as there have been a multiplicity of Medical
Officers examining, chiefly owing to the illness of Dr. Roberts the
Assistant School Medical Officer and Medical Officer of Health.
For the past few years it has been the practice to refer only
well marked cases for operative treatment, although there have
been many children with unsatisfactory conditions of the