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33
The charges prescribed for such treatment to children attending elementary
schools, special schools and nursery schools, and for foundation scholars in aided
secondary schools are substantially lower than the full cost. Parents, who, while
not able to pay the fees of a private practitioner, are able and willing to pay the full
cost of the medical or dental treatment of their children, are enabled to do so.
Fee paying pupils at secondary schools may under certain conditions avail themselves
of the Council's school medical and dental treatment arrangements. The
charges for these cases are the full cost as determined year by year. Machinery is
however, in existence whereby reductions or remissions can be obtained where
the circumstances justify such a course.
The calculated full cost during 1936-37 for each class of ailment treated is :—
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids, 17s. 8d. ; Minor ailments, 7s. 7d. ; Dental
treatment, 7s. 2d. ; X-ray treatment for ringworm, 26s. 10d.
For many years the prescribed charge made by the Council to parents of children
in elementary schools in respect of medical and dental treatment of school children
was 2s., covering all necessary treatment for a period of 6 months, but in the case of
minor ailments free treatment has been given for the first fortnight, after which
1s. is charged, and where slight treatment only has been given in dental cases, the
charge has been 1s. The charge for operative treatment of enlarged tonsils and
adenoids was increased from 2s. to 5s. in April, 1932. All children operated on
under the Council's scheme are retained in the various centres as in-patients.
Parents appreciate the care and attention given to their children in the wards, and
it was found that some were desirous of giving more than the amount charged, as
a mark of their appreciation. In those dental cases where extensive treatment is
undertaken, including the administration of an anaesthetic, the charge was increased
to 3s., the normal charge for ordinary cases remaining at 2s. The aim of the dental
service is to secure that the children commence treatment in the early stages of dental
decay, when teeth can be saved. Accordingly, with a view to encouraging early
treatment, 1s. only has been charged when slight treatment only has been necessary.
So far as those parents who are unable to pay are concerned, it is made clear to
them that the care committees will reduce the charge by 50 per cent., or remit
it altogether.
The " slight-treatment " cases in the dental departments, in which the charge of
1s. is made, numbered, in 1935, 15,095.
No charge is made for refraction of the eyes in the case of defective vision.
This is looked upon as an extension of medical inspection rather than as treatment.
The cost of spectacles however in the case of children attending elementary
schools (but not special schools where the Council bears the cost) falls upon the
parents, assisted where necessary from voluntary funds.
London
Central
Spectacles
Committee.
The care of the children in this respect is supervised by the voluntary London
Central Spectacles Committee, who, in 1932, pointed out that the figure for that
year showed a drop in the number of spectacles obtained ; this was disappointing,
but understandable in view of the hard times. The percentage, 88.6, of the spectacles
ordered, was the lowest since 1926, and it was hoped that the lost ground would be
regained in the succeeding year.
The falling off in 1932 led to redoubled efforts on the part of the care committees
in 1933, and the hope that the lost ground would be regained was amply fulfilled,
as in the latter year the percentage of children obtaining spectacles who needed
them was 92.9, the highest ever yet achieved : a percentage of above 92 was repeated
in 1934 and 1935.