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106
From all children on the Rheumatic Register, the following changes
have occurred during the year:—
Admitted to hospital 11
Discharged from clinic (full recovery or on leaving
school) 12
Transferred to other Hospitals 7
Lapsed 12
Deaths (Child from Tottenham Area) 1
The Clinic has continued to assist the School Medical Officer
(a) to decide which children with rheumatic symptoms required limitation
of school activities and other forms of treatment; (b) to assess children
found to have cardiac murmurs at routine school medical examinations;
(c) to supervise and treat children with chorea and distinguish
them from children with similar symptoms of emotional origin.
As a result of grouping these problems together, much school absence
and unnecessary restriction has been avoided.
Hospital School
The hospital school in the Paediatric wards at St. Ann's General
Hospital, Tottenham, has continued the work started in 1952. The
average number of children being taught per session was 19. The
value of such work in maintaining the educational standard of long-term
cases cannot be overestimated.
Convalescent Holidays
On the advice of the school medical officers or general practitioners,
school children recovering from an acute illness or operation may be
sent for a recuperative holiday of two to four weeks at no expense to
the parents. During 1955, 60 boys and 44 girls were sent for such a
holiday. All the children are seen on their return so that their progress
may be noted and any special educational recommendation made.
Orthopaedic Service
Mr. E. Hambly, f.r.c.s., reports that this has been an active year in
the orthopaedic service. The clinics have been well attended and the
parents and children have proved most co-operative in carrying out
the treatment suggested.
The orthopaedic work in Tottenham has the advantage of being a
comprehensive scheme, as Mr. Hambly, who undertakes the clinic
sessions, is able to carry out any operations or further investigations
that may be necessary at the Prince of Wales's Hospital and St. Ann's
General Hospital, Tottenham.
In addition, there is complete co-operation with the Vale Road
School for Physically Handicapped Children. Equally so, with Dr.
Dunham, who is Medical Director of the Spastic Unit there, and witi
the Headmaster, teaching, nursing and physiotherapy staff wholly of
part-time attached to the school.