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107
Ophthalmic Service
Tottenham
Dr. T. G. Kletz, m.b., ch.b., d.o.m.s., reports as follows on the
work of the Ophthalmic Clinic at the Lordship Lane Medical Centre:—
"Number of cases who attended during the year 1,739
Number of cases of strabismus 220
During the year cases for orthoptic investigation and treatment
have been referred to the Prince of Wales's Hospital, but arrangements,
at the end of the year, were well advanced for the appointment of an
orthoptist at Lordship Lane. Cases of strabismus requiring surgical
treatment were referred to Moorfields Eye Hospital.
During the year three cases were registered as partially sighted,
whilst two cases were recommended to be returned to norma! schooling".
Hornsey
Dr. Marian Lones, m.b., d.p.h., d.o.m.s., reports as follows on the
work of the Ophthalmic Clinic at Hornsey Town Hall:—
"The total attendances at the clinic have been increased during this
year by some 3% and the waiting list for new cases was nil at the end
of the year.
Children's glasses are very vulnerable to damage and before the
National Health Service Act patients found this an expensive item.
The scheme for free repair of glasses is much appreciated.
238 repair forms were issued during the year.
A number of children from an infant school were referred following
'illiterate E-card' testing. This test does not require reading ability
on the part of the child but does require patient and kindly attention
by the school nurse or else children may merely fall silent and be
thought to have poor vision. In actual fact almost all those cases
referred were the 'true bill' and a number of myopes were found whose
vision was, say, 6/12, but which might have been 6/36 by the time
of the intermediate medical examination".
School Meals Service
This service performs an invaluable health and educational function,
providing as it does one balanced meal a day to all who use it, and in
addition teaching the value of eating together in clean and healthy
surroundings. Under the supervisory eye of the teacher many small
children rapidly improve their table manners and the faddiest of
children usually loses his fads when away from over-anxious parents.
Of course, the daily feeding of so many thousands of children in
Tottenham and Hornsey places a formidable responsibility upon the
shoulders of the school meals staff. Every precaution must be taken
to prevent the spread of food-borne infection.
During March and April, 1955, a comprehensive survey was undertaken
by the medical staff of every school canteen in the two boroughs.