View report page

36
After-care
clinic,
St. George's
dispensary
At the St. George's dispensary, Southwark, a special aural centre is maintained
where children suffering from otorrhœa from the Council's residential schools are
treated, and where also the after-care of children who have returned home from the
Downs hospital after mastoid operations is carried out.
The number of "ears" dealt with in children from the residential schools was
214, and the percentage of cure 73.7. The number of children under supervision
at the centre who had been discharged from the Downs hospital was 213, including
53 children discharged in 1936. The total number of children attending, including
after-care cases, was 819, and the number of attendances made was 8,108.
Orthopædic
treatment
The provision for orthopædic treatment in London is generally adequate. As
local education authority, the Council has established 30 day schools for the physically
defective with accommodation for 3,417 children. These schools are regularly visited
by an orthopaedic surgeon. The care and education of cripples are continued at these
schools until they reach the age of 16, and a scheme of after-care of all children
subsequent to their leaving has long been in existence.
There are 11 visiting orthopædic surgeons employed in connection with the
Council's general and special hospitals. There are two special children's hospitals
maintained by the Council to which children suffering from orthopædic defects are
admitted; one of these is Queen Mary's hospital, Carshalton, at which there are
1,284 beds and where special facilities are provided for the treatment of orthopædic
patients. There is no difficulty in finding accommodation immediately for all
orthopædic cases. These special hospitals are now recognised as hospital schools.
The number of children suffering from orthopaedic defects discharged after treatment
as in-patients in the Council's hospital schools during 1936 was 698, of whom
342 were non-tuberculous and 356 tuberculous.
London is a great centre for medical education and there are many voluntary
hospitals, which maintain orthopædic departments, engaged in the teaching of
medical students. These are all eager to undertake the orthopædic care of children.
There are also special voluntary orthopædic hospitals at which orthopædic surgeons
of the highest repute hold appointments. At some of these hospitals the Council's
organisers of children's care work attend in the orthopædic departments as liaison
officers. These include the orthopædic departments at Guy's, the Miller, St. George's,
the Metropolitan and the Queen's hospitals.
The Woolwich area stands in a category by itself owing to the lack of local
orthopædic out-patient provision, and the distance parents must travel with their
crippled children for advice. In this area the Council subsidises the remedial clinic
which is provided by the Invalid Children's Aid Association. The number of children
treated at this centre in 1937 was 279.
The three main causes of crippling in London are tuberculosis, infantile paralysis
and congenital malformation. The first two conditions are notifiable, and schemes
are in operation on the general public health side of the Council's activities for dealing
with children under both these headings. A special unit for the treatment of congenital
malformation has been established at Queen Mary's hospital, Carshalton.
The principal causes of crippling operate before school life begins, at which
period of their lives the children in London are under the care of the public health
departments of the Borough Councils, on behalf of whom the Council provides
institutional treatment whenever required.
Charges made
to parents for
medical and
dental treatment
The Education Act directs that a charge to the parents must be made for medical
treatment. The following flat rates are charged to parents in London:—
Minor ailments First fortnight free; then 1s. for each
succeeding 6 months.
Dental Slight, 1s.; Ordinary, 2s.; Extensive,
3s. (mainly gas).
Nose and throat In-patient treatment for operation, 5s.
All other 2s.